Sodium is on group 1 and has 1 election in its outer shell. Chloride is in group 7 and has 7 electrons in its outer shell.Sodium looses 1 electron and chlorine gains 1 electron giving both atoms a full outer shell. Sodium becomes a 1+ ion Chlorine becomes a 1- ion Ionic bonding in sodium chloride is the electrostatic attraction between the positive sodium and the negative chlorine.