When metals react with non-metals, electrons are transferred from the metal atoms to the non-metal atoms. This results in the metal atoms becoming positively charged ions with fewer electrons than protons and the non-metal atoms becoming negatively charged ions with more electrons than protons. Examples of common monatomic ions formed include Na+, Ca2+, Al3+, Cl-, O2-, and N3-. Polyatomic ions such as NO3- and SO42- also exist. Ionic compounds are formed by combining these ions following rules based on their charges.