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Atoms want their valence orbitals to be completely filled with electrons. In the case of a sodium atom, there is only 1 electron in its outer orbital. Since sodium has electrons occupying all the molecular orbitals of the previous n shell, it is much easier to just give up the electron and form a complete orbital rather than obtain 7 more electrons to complete the orbital. In addition this would require the ion be a charge of negative 7 which is highly unstable in its own right.

In the case of lithium hydrogen and helium, 2 electrons may fill the 1s orbital which is considered to be a full valence shell, lithium will lose an electron to gain the full 1s which hydrogen will gain an electron to fill its 1s orbital and helium will remain inert with the already required 2 electrons filling its 1s orbital.

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Q: How does an element like sodium give up electrons and thereby become more stable?
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Related questions

What gaseous element has 5 element electrons and fewer neutrons than sodium?

The element with 5 fewer electrons than sodium is not a gaseous element!


Which element loses electrons in sodium chloride?

The chloride ions lose a single electron each to become chlorine.


What element have one valence electrons?

Sodium


How many electrons sodium element has?

A neutral atom of sodium has 11.


How many electrons does the element Sodium have?

As the elemental metal sodium has 11 (eleven) electrons; the same number as the protons, and the atomic no.(Z). However, sodium will readily lose one(1) electron to form the sodium cation (Na^(+)) . When it is the sodium cation it has 11 protons, but only 10 electrons.


What is the chemical symbol for an element whose atoms have 11 electrons?

For an neutral element that has the same number of electrons and protons, the element with 11 electrons is Na, sodium.


What element has twelve neutrons and eleven electrons and is a metallic?

sodium


How many electrons does sodium have?

Assuming that you're talking about one sodium atom and that it's not charged,the number of electrons will have to be 11.Source:http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/na.html


How many electrons does Na donate?

Sodium is a metal element. There are 11 electrons in a single atom.


Is the element reactive or satble how do you know?

If the element has a full valence shell, such as the noble gases, then it is unreactive. It the element is missing few valence electrons of has few valence electrons, then the element is very reactive, such as the sodium.


What element has more valence electrons that oxygen fewer valence electrons that neon more protons than sodium but fewer protons than argon?

there is no such element


Does sodium have sodium in it?

Protons, neutrons and electrons. It's an element, Na, and usually appears in the form of table salt (NaCl).