Answer:
When metals react with other elements, the atoms of the metals lose electrons. This is because metals tend to have low electronegativity, meaning they have a tendency to give up electrons in order to achieve a stable configuration. When they react with other elements, such as nonmetals, the metal atoms will transfer electrons to the nonmetal atoms, forming ionic bonds. The metal atoms become positively charged ions (called cations) because they lose electrons, while the nonmetal atoms become negatively charged ions (called anions) because they gain electrons. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of a compound composed of oppositely charged ions.