Help! In chem?

The statement is badly worded and you are quite correct to question it. It should read, "The formation of an ionic compound FROM ITS ELEMENTS is an example of a redox reaction."

Na -----------> Na+ + e is is an oxidation reaction

Cl2 + 2e -----------> 2Cl- is a reduction

So balancing the numbers of electrons so they cancel and then adding, you get.

2Na + Cl2 ------------> 2NaCl a redox reaction.

"The formation of an ionic compound" means the formation of that compound from its elements. So, the reaction below:

2 Na(s) + Cl2(g) --> 2 NaCl(s)

is a redox reaction.

The reaction of NaOH and H2SO4 is not a redox reaction. The oxidation numbers of all the elements remain the same, so no electrons have been transferred. It is simply a neutralization reaction.