How can a sodium atom form a compound with a chlorine atom?
Sodium, symbol Na, can easily form a bond with a chlorine, symbol Cl, because of the octet rule and desire for stability. Bonds happen to “please” the atom and to follow the octet rule, which states that an atom will lose/gain/share their valence electrons to achieve a full (eight) valence electron shell. Sodium has ONE valence electron and Chlorine has SEVEN valence electrons. So, if sodium gives its one valence electron to a sodium atom, sodium has a new valence electron level (the level that was before its previous valence level, which has eight) and its former valence electron snuggles in with chlorine’s seven to make eight. And every one is now happy.
