If the outer most shell of an atom has one to three electrons; it is generally a ________.

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Solution

Metals will have one to three valence electrons which makes it easy to lose these electrons and get a stable electronic configuration.
Metals are those elements that form positive ions by the loss of electrons.
Examples:
Sodium (Na) has 11 electrons, electronic configuration of sodium: 2,8,1. By losing the valence electron it will have an electronic configuration: 2,8. The valence shell has completely filled electronic configuration now. Hence, it is stable.
Calcium (Ca) has 20 electrons, electronic configuration of calcium: 2,8,8,2. By losing the two valence electrons it will have an electronic configuration: 2,8,8. The valence shell has a completely filled electronic configuration now. Hence, it is stable.
Sodium and calcium are group 1 and group 2 elements respectively.
They tend to lose electrons and form positive ions.
Thus, they are metals.
Therefore, if the outermost shell of an atom has one to three electrons; it is generally a metal.

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