What is the charge of the sodium ion (Na)?

• A. -1
• B. +2
• C. +1
• D. 0

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that sodium (Na) is an element in Group 1 of the periodic table, which means it has one electron in its outermost shell.
2. When sodium forms an ion, it tends to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas (neon).
3. Losing one electron results in a net positive charge because there is now one more proton than electrons in the ion.
4. Therefore, the charge of the sodium ion (Na) is +1, indicating it has lost one electron.
5. This is why the sodium ion is represented as Na\textsuperscript{+} or Na\textsuperscript{1+}.