Question

Elements with 3 or fewer valence electrons tend to lose electrons, and elements with 5 or more valence electrons tend to gain electrons.

Answer 1

Atoms with 3 or fewer valence electrons tend to lose electrons, becoming positively charged ions called cations. Atoms with 5 or more valence electrons tend to gain electrons, becoming negatively charged ions called anions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atoms with 3 or fewer valence electrons tend to lose electrons to achieve a full outer shell. By losing electrons, they become positively charged ions known as cations. This is because they have fewer negatively charged electrons to balance the positive charges of the protons in the nucleus.

On the other hand, atoms with 5 or more valence electrons tend to gain electrons to achieve a full outer shell. By gaining electrons, they become negatively charged ions known as anions. This helps them achieve the same number of electrons as the noble gas closest to them, which makes them more stable.