Question
What happens when metals and non metals react?
Electrons move from the non metals to the metals
Electrons move from the metals to the non metals
Electrons move from the non metals to the metals
Electrons move from the metals to the non metals
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
When metals and non-metals react, electrons typically move from the metals to the non-metals. This is because metals tend to have a relatively low electronegativity and readily lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, often forming positive ions (cations). On the other hand, non-metals have a higher electronegativity and tend to gain electrons to achieve stability, forming negative ions (anions).
This process is characteristic of ionic bonding, where the transfer of electrons leads to the formation of ionic compounds. For example, in the reaction between sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a non-metal), sodium donates an electron to chlorine, resulting in the formation of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻), which then attract each other due to their opposite charges, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride (table salt).
This process is characteristic of ionic bonding, where the transfer of electrons leads to the formation of ionic compounds. For example, in the reaction between sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a non-metal), sodium donates an electron to chlorine, resulting in the formation of sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻), which then attract each other due to their opposite charges, resulting in the formation of sodium chloride (table salt).