Question

What is the difference between sodium atom and sodium ion?

Answer 1

Dear student,
Sodium atom (Na) is neutral whereas sodium ion (Na⁺) is a charged species with a charge of +1.
The number of protons and electrons in sodium atom is same i.e 11 whereas the number of protons in sodium ion (11) is more than number of electrons (10).
The electronic configuration of Na and Na⁺ is 2,8,1 and 2,8 respectively.
The size of sodium ion is smaller than sodium atom.
Sodium ion is very stable while sodium atom is reactive.

Regards.