which element would most likely lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements

iodine
gallium
rubidium
argon

The element that would most likely lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements is gallium.

The element that is most likely to lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements is gallium.

To determine which element would most likely lose electrons to form positive ions when bonding with other elements, we need to consider the elements' positions in the periodic table.

Iodine (I) is located in Group 17 (also known as Group 7A or the halogens). Elements in this group tend to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Therefore, iodine is not likely to lose electrons to form positive ions.

Gallium (Ga) is located in Group 13 (also known as Group 3A or the boron group). Elements in this group tend to lose three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Hence, gallium is a potential candidate for losing electrons and forming positive ions.

Rubidium (Rb) is located in Group 1 (also known as Group 1A or the alkali metals). Elements in this group tend to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, readily forming positive ions. Therefore, rubidium is another potential candidate for losing electrons.

Argon (Ar) is a noble gas located in Group 18 (also known as Group 8A or the noble gases). Noble gases have complete electron configurations and are stable, meaning they do not typically form ions.

Based on their positions in the periodic table, we can conclude that rubidium and gallium are the elements most likely to lose electrons and form positive ions when bonding with other elements.