it becomes an ion
As we studied in our chapter on the periodic table, we saw that elements share a number of important properties with other elements found in the same group. The chemical behavior of a given element is largely dictated by the configuration of its valence electrons. Many elements have a tendency to gain or lose electrons in order to achieve a more stable configuration. When a neutral atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. In this lesson, we will look at ways to predict what type of ion a given element is likely to form.