What occurs during the reaction between metals and non-metals?

The reaction between metals and non-metals typically involves the transfer of electrons, which is a fundamental characteristic of ionic bonding. In this process, metal atoms tend to lose electrons due to their low ionization energies, while non-metal atoms gain those electrons because they have high electronegativities. This electron transfer results in the formation of positively charged metal ions and negatively charged non-metal ions.

This transfer leads to the creation of ionic bonds, where the oppositely charged ions attract each other, forming a stable ionic compound. The understanding of this electron behavior is crucial in explaining the properties of the resulting compounds, which often have high melting and boiling points, and conduct electricity when dissolved in water.

The other options do not accurately represent the nature of the reaction between metals and non-metals. Sharing of electrons equally is characteristic of covalent bonding rather than the ionic bonding that occurs in these reactions. Non-metal atoms do not generally lose electrons; they are the ones that accept electrons. Finally, atoms in this reaction do not remain neutral; they form charged ions instead, which contradicts the statement about atoms becoming neutral and not forming ions.