I'm working with chemistry and the reactions of metals with non metals. It says in the book that Sodium has 11 protons and 11 electrons giving it a net charge of Zero. The first chapters of the book explained that because its in the first row of the table off elements that it has a 1 charge. This is applied to other elements in the book. I THOUGHT that because its meant to have a 1 charge that it makes it an ION? What am I missing?
PLEASE HELP!

A sodium atom has 11 protons and 11 electrons and hence has zero charge. Your book says that it can lose 1 electron and thereby become an ion with a plus one charge.
Don't confuse the future with the present.

Yes, that's it, thank you man!