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An atom becomes an ion when it gains or loses an electron. Remember, the elements are trying to gain the properties of a noble gas (full electron shells e.g. 2,8,8..). So Sodium has 11 protons (therefore it must have 11 electrons) and only 2 electrons can fill up the first energy level. Then the remaining 9 electrons must be placed into energy levels. The second energy level can only hold 8 electrons, so the additional electron must be placed into an energy level on its own.

It has the electronic structure 2,8,1. When it loses its electron to an element like Flourine, Sodium becomes a positive ion and the fluorine which has gained the electron becomes negative.

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