Is H a loss or gain of electrons in a ionic bond?

Answer 1

This is a trick question, since hydrogen does not form ionic bonds, only covalent bonds (or in some cases, what are called hydrogen bonds). But if you were to ask if hydrogen tends more toward being a donor of electrons (i.e., a metal) or a recipient of electrons (i.e., a non-metal) hydrogen tends to donate electrons. For example in water, H2O, all three atoms share the valence electrons (which is what makes this a covalent bond) however the electrons spend more time in the vicinity of the oxygen atom then they do in the vicinity of the two hydrogen atoms.
I am going to make an addition to this answer. The element hydrogen, which is immensely important in organic chemistry, is almost always found as I described it, forming covalent bonds and having a metallic role, tending to donate electrons. However, there are other possible hydrogen compounds, such as lithium hydride (LiH) in which hydrogen does form an ionic bond, and in which it acts as an electron recipient rather than an electron donor. Hydrogen has an electronegativity that is intermediary between metal and non-metal, so it can take on either role. However, it is very rare to encounter lithium hydride, in comparison to compounds such as water, methane, ammonia, etc., in which hydrogen has the characteristics of a metal.

Answer 2

In an ionic bond, H typically loses an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. It goes from having one electron to none, resulting in a net positive charge of +1.