Which of the following elements would you expect to lose electrons in chemical changes?

• A. Ne
• B. Cl
• C. O
• D. Na

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that elements tend to lose electrons if they are metals with low ionization energies, typically found on the left side of the periodic table, especially in groups 1 and 2.
2. Identify the elements given: Ne (Neon), Cl (Chlorine), O (Oxygen), and Na (Sodium).
3. Recall that Neon (Ne) is a noble gas with a full valence shell, making it very stable and unlikely to lose electrons.
4. Recognize that Chlorine (Cl) and Oxygen (O) are nonmetals that tend to gain electrons to achieve a full valence shell rather than lose them.
5. Note that Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal with one electron in its outermost shell, which it readily loses to form a positive ion during chemical changes.