Nonmetals have high electronegativity, so they tend to attract electrons.

A cation is a positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons.

An anion is formed when an atom gains electrons, giving it a negative charge.

Sodium (Na) becomes stable by losing one electron to achieve an octet.

Chlorine (Cl) becomes stable by gaining one electron, completing its octet.

The octet rule states that atoms tend to achieve 8 valence electrons in their outermost shell.

Valence electrons are the electrons found in the outermost energy level of an atom.

In a Lewis dot structure, dots around the element’s symbol represent valence electrons.

Metals usually form cations while nonmetals usually form anions.

Atoms with fewer than 4 valence electrons usually lose electrons to become stable.

Atoms with more than 4 valence electrons usually gain electrons to become stable.

Noble gases already have a stable octet, so they usually do not form ions.

The number of valence electrons determines how an atom will bond with other atoms.

A Lewis dot structure of oxygen (O) shows 6 dots around the symbol O.