Why do nonmetals gain electrons rather than lose electrons to get a full outer shell?

Answer 1

they gain electrons because they need an electron to fill there outer most shell to make it stable !!!

Nonmetals have high electronegativity (Ability to attract electrons) so they attract more electrons then lower electronegativity elements.

Answer 2

Why is a question asked in philosophy, not in science, but I'm assuming that by why you mean how.

Electronegativity is what determines whether an element tends to gain or lose electrons. The more electronegative, the greater the tendency to gain rather than lose electrons, and vice versa. Electronegativity is determined by the number of electrons in the inner shells (more inner-shell electrons means more repulsive force to offset electronegativity), and the number and arrangement of the electrons in the outer shells (orbitals that are almost full tend to "want" to gain another electron). This is why elements are more electronegative on the right side of the Periodic Table (where the outer shells are almost full) and are less electronegative near the bottom of the periodic table (where the atoms have larger numbers of inner-shell electrons).

The very definition of a metal is an element whose atoms' electronegativities are weak enough so that the electrons are, rather than tightly bound into their proper orbitals, freely buzzing throughout the entire metal as a sort of fluid. Logically, an element that exhibits the opposite properties, that holds on tight to its electrons due to its high electronegativity, would be a nonmetal.

An atom whose electrons are loose tends to lose them; conversely, an atom with a tight hold on its electrons tends to grab onto more, if it has any room in its orbitals. This is why metals tend to form electron-stripped, positively-charged cations, while nonmetals such as halogens and oxygen (but not noble gases, whose orbitals are completely occupied) tend to load up on electrons to form negatively-charged anions.

Answer 3

Atoms want to be as stable as possible. This means they want to be as close to the noble gasses as they can. By gaining electrons, they fill up the p level to have as many electrons as the nearest noble gas.

Answer 4

Their atoms have 5,6,or 7electrons in the outside shell and would be more stable with 8 electrons in the outside shell

Answer 5

The valence shells of non-metals are closer to being full compared to metals, so it requires less energy to gain electrons than to lose electrons.

Answer 6

They are close to completing their valence shell, and thus becoming stable.