Final answer:
Lead loses electrons to fluorine due to fluorine's significantly higher electronegativity, resulting in the formation of an ionic bond.
Step-by-step explanation:
When lead reacts with fluorine, the lead atom loses electrons. This occurs because fluorine has a very high electronegativity, meaning it has a strong tendency to gain electrons. Lead, which is a metal, has a relatively lower electronegativity, making it more likely to lose electrons.
The loss of electrons by lead turns it into a positively charged ion or cation, whereas the gain of electrons by fluorine turns it into a negatively charged ion or anion. This difference in electronegativity between the two elements leads to ionic bonding, where lead transfers its electrons to fluorine.
When lead reacts with fluorine, the lead atom will lose electrons and become a positive ion. This is because fluorine has a higher electronegativity than lead, meaning it has a greater tendency to attract electrons. The transfer of electrons from lead to fluorine is an example of ionic bonding. Lead loses electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration and become more like the noble gas, while fluorine gains electrons to fill its valence shell.