Why a sodium ion is commonly found in nature but a sodium atom is not?

Answer 1

It has to do with electron structure. Electron structures that have filled energy levels are extremely stable. The sodium atom has an unstable electron structure: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1. The sodium ion (formed by the sodium atom losing 1 electron) has the electron structure: 1s2 2s2 2p6 and is very stable. Since sodium atoms are not stable, they will react with other things (like oxygen and water) to become sodium ions. Sodium ions are found in many compounds in nature (like salt - sodium chloride).

Answer 2

Because plain Sodium starts to oxidize when put in an open air. Sodium is very active in connection with water as well as with oxygen. You probably seen the reaction of Sodium with water, but you shouldn't try it at home. It can even cause explosions.

So it rather simple. In our atmosphere there's an abundance of oxygen, so you can't have plain Sodium lying around without turning into a Sodium Oxide, where voila, you have a Sodium ion instead of an atom.

Answer 3

sodium atom would refer to sodium metal which is very unstable and reacts with air, and violently with moisture. on the other hand, sodium ions do not exist independently but as part of stable compopunds example in sodium chloride which nis very stable. if you put this into solution you get an aqueous solution containing Na+ and Cl -2 ions.

Answer 4

A sodium atom is not found in nature as it is very active metal, and bonds readily with Hydrogen Hydroxide, (H2O) an element of which there is a great deal on this planet!

Answer 5

An ion is an atom or molecule which has lost or gained one or more electrons, making it positively or negatively charged. A negatively charged ion, which has more electrons in its electron shells than it has protons in its nuclei, is known as an anion (pronounced /ˈænaɪən/; an-eye-on). Conversely, a positively-charged ion, which has fewer electrons than protons, is known as a cation (pronounced /ˈkætaɪən/; cat-eye-on). An ion consisting of a single atom is called a monatomic ion, but if it consists of two or more atoms, it is a polyatomic ion. Polyatomic ions containing oxygen, such as carbonate and sulfate, are called oxyanions. Ions are denoted in the same way as electrically neutral atoms and molecules except for the presence of a superscript indicating the sign of the net electric charge and the number of electrons lost or gained, if more than one. For example: H+ and SO42−. In chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions. Radicals play an important role in combustion, atmospheric chemistry, polymerization, plasma chemistry, biochemistry, and many other chemical processes, including human physiology. For example, superoxide and nitric oxide regulate many biological processes, such as controlling vascular tone. "Radical" and "free radical" are frequently used interchangeably, however a radical may be trapped within a solvent cage or be otherwise bound.

Answer 6

Sodium is unstable. Must bond with something.

Answer 7

sodium metal is highly reactive and unstable.