Hot Tips!! Elements in Periodic Table

·   Atoms that lose electrons (like metals) gain positive charge, becoming cations, such as Na+ or Mg²⁺.

·   Atoms that gain electrons (like non-metals) gain negative charge, becoming anions, such as Cl^– or O^2–

Elements tend to lose or gain as many electrons as necessary to have valence shells resembling the elements in Group VIIIA (noble gases):

• Group IA (alkali metal) elements lose one electron.
• Group IIA (alkaline earth metal) elements lose two electrons.
• Group VIIA (halogen) elements gain one electron.
• Group VIA elements tend to gain two electrons.
• Group VA elements tend to gain three electrons.