Since atom is neutral, and electron is unit (1.6X1019 Coulomb) negatively charged thus atom X will lose an electron to become X+1 . The metal loses one or more electrons while the nonmetal gains one or more. The number of electrons lost depends on the position of the metal in the periodic table. Group 1 elements lose 1 electron, group 2 elements lose 2 electrons. A positive charge results when an electron is lost because the number of protons then exceeds the number of electrons. Opposite happens with the negative charge.