What is the oxidation number of sodium (Na) in compounds?

Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal and belongs to group 1 of the periodic table. In compounds, alkali metals have a characteristic behavior of losing one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas. By losing that one electron, sodium has an oxidation state of +1 in its compounds.

This +1 oxidation state reflects the fact that sodium readily donates its valence electron in chemical reactions, which is key in forming ionic bonds with nonmetals. For example, when sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium loses one electron and achieves a charge of +1, while chlorine gains an electron and achieves a charge of -1.

In contrast, the other options do not correspond to the common oxidation state of sodium in compounds. For instance, an oxidation state of 0 would be applicable only in its elemental form (Na), which is not a compound. A -1 oxidation state is not typical for sodium, as it does not gain electrons to form negative ions in these reactions. Similarly, a +2 oxidation state is not characteristic of sodium; it is common for some other elements, but alkaline metals like sodium generally do not exhibit this higher oxidation state. Thus, the oxidation