Which group metals or nonmetals has the greatest tendency to gain electrons and to become negative ions?

Nonmetals have the greatest tendency to gain electrons and become negative ions. This is primarily due to their higher electronegativity compared to metals, which allows them to attract electrons more effectively. Elements such as halogens (e.g., fluorine and chlorine) readily gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming anions. In contrast, metals typically lose electrons to form positive ions.