Which of the following statements about nonmetals is true?
a. Nonmetals tend to gain electrons to increase their mass.
b. Nonmetals tend to lose electrons to to form positive ions.
c. Nonmetals tend to gain electrons to obtain a noble gas electron configuration.
d. none of the above
c. Nonmetals tend to gain electrons to obtain a noble gas electron configuration.
A nonmetal will tend to gain a number of electrons that will give it the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas, meaning a full valence shell, which is a stabilizing characteristic.