Question

When trying to determine whether or not an atom gives up electrons easily, do chemists look at electronegativity or ionization potential?

Answer 1

Here I found some info at Yahoo answers: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090119191941AAB7oAb
The more electronegative an atom is the more unwilling it is to lose its electrons in a compound. If you do try to take a very EN atom away from a compound you'll need to apply a lot of energy for that to happen. I can give an example of a single atom though 

Cl has 7 valence electron filled and every atom wants to be like nobles (noble gases), so it's not going to give an electron away b/c it's really close to being like a noble gas. Noble gases are the most stable atoms, which is why I say stability counts.