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

Question

argon (Ar)
gallium(Ga)
iodine(I)
rubidium(Rb)

Answer 1

Among the elements listed, rubidium (Rb) is the one most likely to lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements.

Rubidium is an alkali metal, which is situated in Group 1 of the periodic table. Alkali metals tend to have a single electron in their outermost energy level, which they can easily lose to achieve a stable electron configuration (similar to the noble gases). When rubidium loses this electron, it forms a positive ion (Rb⁺).

In contrast, argon is a noble gas and is generally inert, iodine is a non-metal that typically gains electrons to form negative ions (I⁻), and gallium, while a metal, does not readily lose electrons to form positive ions as easily as rubidium.