Metals useually have few valence electrons and they loose electrons from their outermost shell thus, forming an ion with positive charge (cations). This is because it is easy for metals to loose electron and attain stable or octet configuration similar to rare gases. Hence to attain stability metals lose valence electrons. E.g. sodium (At no. =11 ; electronic configu-1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1) metal has one valence electron and it is easy for it to loose 1e rather to gain 7e to attain stable configuration. Hence it loose 1e forming Na+ cation.
Gaining an electron typically occurs with nonmetals when they bond with other elements. This is because nonmetals tend to have a higher electronegativity, or tendency to attract electrons, compared to metals. Metals usually lose electrons to form positive ions, while nonmetals typically gain electrons to form negative ions.
Lithium is the alkali metal that has two energy levels in its electron configuration. Its electron configuration is [He] 2s¹.
Copper is conductive due to its atomic structure, which allows for easy movement of electrons. Its outer electron shell is loosely bound, making it easy for electrons to move freely within the structure. This leads to high electrical conductivity in copper.
gaining an electron
The element with an outermost electron configuration of 6s2 is Barium (Ba). It is classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
Since it has 1 valence electrons it is a metal and also non metal because it may loose 1 electron to stabilize or also gain 1 electron to stabilize. Metals loose electrons and non-metals gain electron and hydrogen have both metallic (to loose) and non-metallic (to gain) properties.
Alkali metal atoms need to lose one electron to achieve the stable electron arrangement of the nearest noble gas. This is because the noble gases have a full valence shell, which is more stable. By losing an electron, the alkali metal atoms achieve a full valence shell and become more stable.
I assume you are talking about the Alkali metal group which in fact would readily loose their outer electron to form a 1+ cation (have a full valence electron shell).
Metals which can easily loose electron are most reactive. They are present in group-1.
Metals , generally, have electronic configuration: with outermost electron having 1,2 or 3. Since, they can easily attain noble gas configuration to attain stability; they readily loose electron.
This electron is the only one in a new outermost electron shell as you progress through the periodic table. So it is relatively easy for it to hop off and join to a Chlorine atom, for example, which is one short of a completed shell. So it's good in forming ionic compounds,
The Alkali Metals loose one electron in order to achieve a nobel gas configuration.
Hydrogen has 1 electron. It can easily gain or lose electron to form metal or non metal
The electron outside the shell donate its electron to the one inside the shell
When a group 1 metal reacts, its outer shell electron(s) are transferred to another atom or shared in a chemical bond. This results in the metal ion having a full outer shell of electrons, usually achieved by losing one electron to become stable with a +1 charge.
Cesium (Cs) is the alkali metal that requires 4 electron shells as it has the electron configuration [Xe] 6s1.
Gaining an electron typically occurs with nonmetals when they bond with other elements. This is because nonmetals tend to have a higher electronegativity, or tendency to attract electrons, compared to metals. Metals usually lose electrons to form positive ions, while nonmetals typically gain electrons to form negative ions.