Which element would most likely lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements?

gallium
rubidium
argon
iodine

1 answer

Rubidium is the element that would most likely lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements. Rubidium is an alkali metal, which typically has a low ionization energy and readily loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. In contrast, gallium can also lose electrons but is not as likely as rubidium. Argon is a noble gas and does not readily lose or gain electrons. Iodine is a non-metal that tends to gain electrons to form negative ions. Therefore, rubidium is the correct answer.