"describe what is meant by the scientific method and how it is applied."

The reading states that rather than applying this method through trial-and-error approach, scientists try to predict this method theoretically, then test their theories against their experiments in the laboratory

It won't lose or gain electrons if it's a covalent bond it shares the electrons with another atom or atoms. if it is an ionic bond it will lose the 3 electrons on the outer shell and become a positively charged ion.  credit goes to @sunshinebaby of answers.yahoo.com.