When metal atoms combine chemically with atoms of other elements, what do they usually do?

Maybe I know too much chemistry but how the metals (and the non-metals) react depends on where they are in the Periodic Table. The metals in groups I and II over on the far left side are explosively reactive and loose electrons and form ionic bonds. Examples: Na+1 has lost 1 electron and Li+2 has lost 2 electrons. The metals in the higher groups are more confusing but most of them share outer shell electrons and form covalent bonds. Examples: Fe2O3 (rust) where Iron shares 2X3 electrons with Oxygen which shares 3X2 electrons. Confused enough? :-)

The answer you'll be expected to give depends on the subject of the chapter you're studying. If you're studying covalent bonds, then the answer will probably be "form covalent bonds". If you're studying ionic bonds, then the answer will be "lose electrons".

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This may not be the answer... I'm sorry if it's not

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