Where do electrons go when an atom loses them?

When an atom loses electrons, those electrons do not simply disappear or get destroyed; instead, they are typically transferred to another atom. This transfer of electrons is fundamental to many chemical reactions, particularly in the formation of ionic bonds.

For example, in a reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) to form sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium donates one electron to chlorine. This result creates a positively charged sodium ion (Na⁺) and a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl⁻). The attraction between these oppositely charged ions forms the ionic bond that holds the compound together.

The concept of electron transfer is key to understanding both oxidation and reduction processes in redox reactions, where one species loses electrons (oxidation) and another gains them (reduction). Thus, the idea that electrons are transferred to another atom accurately reflects the behavior of electrons during these chemical processes.