When sodium and chlorine form an ionic compound, will the sodium and chloride ions have the same charge or opposite charges?

When sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) form an ionic compound, they do not have the same charge. Here's why:

1. Sodium is a metal that belongs to Group 1 of the periodic table. Elements in this group have one electron in their outermost shell. To achieve a stable electron configuration, sodium tends to lose this one electron. When it does, it forms a sodium ion (Na+) with a positive charge.

2. Chlorine, on the other hand, is a non-metal that belongs to Group 17 of the periodic table. Elements in this group have seven electrons in their outermost shell. To achieve a stable electron configuration, chlorine tends to gain one electron. When it does, it forms a chloride ion (Cl-) with a negative charge.

3. Therefore, when sodium and chlorine form an ionic compound (such as sodium chloride, NaCl), the sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) have opposite charges. The positive charge of the sodium ions and the negative charge of the chloride ions attract each other, forming an ionic bond that holds the ions together in the compound.