Based on the trends you've identified, what generalizations can you make about how atoms gain or lose electrons? Select all the correct answers.

1. Atoms with close to eight valence electrons tend to gain electrons when forming ions.

2. Atoms with only a few valence electrons tend to lose electrons when forming ions.

3. Atoms tend to gain or lose electrons such that they have eight valence electrons.

4. Atoms tend to gain or lose electrons in a way that results in the same electron configuration as a noble gas.

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Explanation:

Atoms tend to gain or lose electrons to obtain the same electron configuration as a noble gas. So, the resulting ions have two electrons in the last s sublevel and six electrons in the last p sublevel, giving a total of eight valence electrons. A metal atom has only a few valence electrons, so it loses all of its valence electrons. The loss of valence electrons gives the metal atom the electron configuration of the noble gas in the previous period. A nonmetal atom has more valence electrons, so it gains enough electrons to have eight. The gain in valence electrons gives the nonmetal atom the electron configuration of the noble gas at the end of its period.