What happens when metals react with non metals?

When a metal reacts with a non-metal it forms an ionic bond. Explanation: As we know metals have a tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions(cations).Which makes them electropositive. read more

Metal and non-metals oxides. Reaction with oxygen. Metals react with oxygen in the air to produce metal oxides, like magnesium oxide. Non-metals react with oxygen in the air to produce non-metal oxides. Here are two examples for the non-metals carbon and sulfur. Carbon burns in air to form carbon. read more

Reactions of other non-metals with bases are actually quite complex. Non-metal oxides are usually acidic in nature and react with bases in the same way as acids (salt and water). CO2 + 2NaOH —————-> Na2CO3 + H2O. There are more complex base-non-metal reactions such as chlorine with calcium hydroxide and chlorine with potassium hydroxide. read more

non-metal atoms gain electrons to form negatively charged ions The ionic bond is the force of attraction between the oppositely charged ions. This animation shows how ions form when sodium atoms react with chlorine atoms to form sodium chloride. read more