when elements react, what are given away, taken or shared?

When elements react, the particles that are given away, taken, or shared are electrons.

Quick Scoop

When atoms of different elements react, they change how their electrons are arranged, especially in the outer (valence) shell.

This change in electron arrangement is what forms new chemical bonds and creates new substances.

What is given away?

Some atoms lose (give away) electrons and become positively charged ions.
For example, sodium atoms can lose one electron to become a sodium ion with a positive charge.

What is taken?

Other atoms gain (take) electrons and become negatively charged ions.
For example, chlorine atoms can gain one electron to become chloride ions with a negative charge.

What is shared?

In many reactions, atoms share pairs of electrons instead of fully giving them up or taking them.
This sharing of electrons forms covalent bonds, which hold together molecules like water and carbon dioxide.

TL;DR:
In chemical reactions, it is the electrons that are given away, taken, or shared when elements react.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.