electropositivity

Electropositivity is the tendency of an atom to release electrons. This is the opposite of electronegativity, which is an atom's ability to attract electrons within a chemical bond. Elements with low ionization energies and low electron affinities are electropositive and tend to form positive ions (cations) when creating compounds. These elements are typically found in the lower left-hand region of the periodic table. For example, alkali metals like cesium are highly electropositive and readily lose their valence electrons. In contrast, elements in the upper right-hand corner of the periodic table, like fluorine, have high electronegativity and tend to form negative ions (anions).1234