Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the typical charge of sodium ions (Na) when present in a salt compound?
A
+2
B
0
C
+1
D
-1
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that sodium (Na) is an alkali metal located in Group 1 of the periodic table, which means it typically loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Recall that when an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion called a cation. The charge corresponds to the number of electrons lost.
Since sodium loses one electron, its typical ionic charge is +1.
Recognize that in salt compounds, sodium ions are almost always present as Na\textsuperscript{+} with a +1 charge.
Therefore, the typical charge of sodium ions in salt compounds is +1.