Question

is a metal element more likely to form an ion by losing electrons or by gaining them

Answer 1

A metal element is more likely to form an ion by losing electrons. This is because metals tend to have fewer electrons in their outermost energy level, known as the valence shell. By losing these valence electrons, the metal can achieve a stable octet configuration, which is energetically favorable. Additionally, metals have low ionization energies, which means that it takes relatively little energy to remove an electron from a metal atom. As a result, metals tend to be good reducers and are more likely to form cations than anions.