Likely ion charge for Ga?

[janeane Kim4G]

This is part c of 2.15A asking for the likely charge for the ions formed from Ga. the answer is 3+, which makes it isoelectric to Ni. Does anyone know why Ga would not approach group 18 and likely become Ga3+ instead?

[kamalkolluri]

Ga becomes 3+ because it is easier to remove 3 electrons than add on 5 more

[Christopher Tran 1J]

Metals tend to lose electrons in order to acquire a noble gas configuration, and for Ga, it is easier to lose three electrons than to gain five electrons.