What happens when a sodium atom and a chlorine atom exchange an election?

When a sodium atom (Na) and a chlorine atom (Cl) exchange an electron, the sodium atom loses an electron to become a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), while the chlorine atom gains an electron to become a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-). The oppositely charged ions are then attracted to each other, forming an ionic bond in a compound called sodium chloride (NaCl), or common table salt.