(b) Sodium atoms react with chlorine atoms to produce sodium chloride (NaCl).
Describe what happens when a sodium atom reacts with a chlorine atom
Write about electron transfer in your answer

Explanation:

When sodium reacts with with chlorine atoms, an electrovalent bond is formed as a result of this interaction

The driving force for this interatomic interaction is the need for both sodium and chlorine to attain a stable electronic configuration.

Sodium has one valence electron, Chlorine has 7 valence electrons.

  Na  = 2, 8, 1

  Cl = 2, 8, 7

  Sodium loses one electron as the less electronegative specie;

       Na →  Na⁺  + e⁻

 Chlorine then gains the one electron:

    Cl  + e  → Cl⁻

Combine reaction;

   Na⁺ + Cl⁻  → NaCl

The Na transfers an electron to Cl and thereby becomes positively charged. The chlorine becomes negatively charged. The electrostatic attraction between the two develops the ionic bond.