If a chlorine atom were to attract an electron from sodium, the chlorine atom would become charged.

Since chlorine (Cl) is the molecule which attracts the electron therefore it would become negatively charged (Cl -), while the sodium (Na) on the other hand will become positively charged (Na +).

This process of one element stealing away the electron of another element happens when one is more electronegative than the other. The more electronegative element attracts the electron of the less electronegative element. This is actually what happens during an ionic bond between a metal and a non metal. The negatively charged ion is called the anion while the positively charged ion is called as the cation.

negatively charged