Why would you expect sodium (Na) to react strongly with chlorine (Cl)?
Answer: The correct option is (3) " Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron ".
Explanation :
The electronic configuration of sodium (Na) is \(1s^2\ 2s^2\ 2p^6\ 3s^1\). It has only one vacant electron.
While the electronic configuration of chlorine is \(1s^2\ 2s^2\ 2p^6\ 3s^2\ 3p^5\). It has seven valance electrons.
When Na reacts with Cl, Na will lose one electron and this lost electron gets transferred to chlorine. This forms a strong ionic bond.
So, the correct option is (3) " Sodium needs to lose one electron, and chlorine needs to gain one electron ".