Final answer:
A metal reacting with a nonmetal typically forms a stable compound called a salt, a type of ionic compound. This happens through an ionic bond, where the metal donates electrons and the nonmetal accepts those electrons, forming positive and negative ions that are attracted to each other. An example of this reaction is the formation of table salt from sodium and chlorine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction of a metal with a nonmetal typically produces a compound, most commonly a salt. This reaction is a type of chemical reaction called an ionic bond, where the metal loses electrons to become a positive ion and the nonmetal accepts these electrons to become a negative ion.
The positive and negative ions then attract each other to form an ionic compound, a stable salt.
For instance, when sodium (a metal) and chlorine (a nonmetal) react, they form sodium chloride, which is a salt and the main component of table salt.
Learn more about Formation of Salts