What type of ions do nonmetals typically form?

Nonmetals typically form negative ions, also known as anions, when they gain electrons. This behavior is a result of their position on the periodic table; nonmetals are found on the right side, where they have higher electronegativities compared to metals. When nonmetals react with other elements, particularly metals, they tend to attract electrons rather than lose them. For instance, chlorine, a nonmetal, can gain an electron to become a chloride ion (Cl⁻), thus achieving a stable electron configuration similar to that of noble gases.

This tendency of nonmetals to form anions contrasts sharply with metals, which usually lose electrons to form positive ions or cations. Moreover, neutral atoms are uncharged and do not apply in this context, as we are specifically discussing the ionic forms that result from chemical reactions. Cationic complexes involve positively charged ion groups that arise primarily from metal elements and do not represent the behavior of nonmetals.