Questions: Why are the sodium and chlorine ions stable? sodium lost one electron and chlorine gained one electron. sodium gained one electron and chlorinelost one electron they exchanged protons sodium lost a neutron and chlorine gained a neutron

Solution Steps

Ions are stable when they achieve a full outer electron shell, similar to the electron configuration of noble gases. This typically involves the loss or gain of electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration.

Sodium (Na) has one electron in its outermost shell. By losing this electron, sodium achieves a stable electron configuration similar to neon (Ne), resulting in a positively charged ion (\(\text{Na}^+\)).

Chlorine (Cl) has seven electrons in its outermost shell. By gaining one electron, chlorine achieves a stable electron configuration similar to argon (Ar), resulting in a negatively charged ion (\(\text{Cl}^-\)).

• Option 1: Sodium lost one electron and chlorine gained one electron. This is correct because it describes the process by which both ions achieve stability.
• Option 2: Sodium gained one electron and chlorine lost one electron. This is incorrect because it describes the opposite of what actually happens.
• Option 3: They exchanged protons. This is incorrect because ion stability is achieved through electron transfer, not proton exchange.
• Option 4: Sodium lost a neutron and chlorine gained a neutron. This is incorrect because ion stability is related to electron transfer, not neutron exchange.

Final Answer