Metals
* Sodium (Na): Forms a +1 ion (Na⁺). Sodium is in Group 1 of the periodic table, and elements in this group tend to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
* Aluminum (Al): Forms a +3 ion (Al³⁺). Aluminum is in Group 13 and often loses three electrons to reach a stable configuration.
* Calcium (Ca): Forms a +2 ion (Ca²⁺). Calcium is in Group 2 and tends to lose two electrons.
Nonmetals
* Sulfur (S): Forms a -2 ion (S²⁻). Sulfur is in Group 16 and typically gains two electrons to achieve a stable configuration.
* Nitrogen (N): Forms a -3 ion (N³⁻). Nitrogen is in Group 15 and often gains three electrons.
Key Point: Metals typically form positive ions (cations), while nonmetals typically form negative ions (anions).
