Answer to Question #100383 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for kendrick

Question

Sodium ions are used by your body every time you move a muscle. The difference between the Na+ ions and atomic Na is that

Answer 1

The ion of sodium $\text{Na}^+$ has one less electron than the atomic sodium. That is, $\text{Na}^+$ has 10 negative electrons and 11 positive protons. Common atomic $\text{Na}$ has 11 elections and 11 protons. This difference causes different properties of sodium in the two states.