Do atoms have the ability to gain or lose electrons?

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Atoms can gain or lose electrons to form ions, which is fundamental to how chemical bonding works. An atom seeks a more stable electron arrangement, often a full outer shell. Metals, with relatively low ionization energy, tend to lose electrons and become positively charged ions; nonmetals, with higher electron affinity, tend to gain electrons and become negatively charged ions. For example, sodium donates one electron to become Na+, while chlorine accepts that electron to become Cl-, and together they form an ionic bond in NaCl. In other cases, atoms may share electrons rather than transfer them, but the ability to gain or lose electrons is a real and common part of how atoms react. So, atoms do have the ability to gain or lose electrons.