Why do most metals tend to form cations?

Why metals tend to form cations, while nonmetals tend to form anions?

• Please, explain why metals tend to form cations, while nonmetals tend to form anions.

• Answer:

  Metals lose electrons in bonding whilst non-metals gain electrons during ionic bonding hence metals for cations and non-metals form anions. It is difficult for a non metal such as oxygen to lose 6 electrons to form a cation since it would need a lot of energy. When it comes to metals it is also difficult to gain that much elecrons since as electrons are added the effective nuclear charge increases each time.