No, not all elements "seek" to become noble gases by either losing or gaining valence electrons. The tendency of elements to gain or lose electrons depends on their position in the periodic table and their specific electron configurations.
Elements on the left side of the periodic table, particularly in Group 1 (alkali metals) and Group 2 (alkaline earth metals), have a tendency to lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas. By losing electrons, these elements form positively charged ions (cations). For example, sodium (Na) in Group 1 readily loses one electron to become a sodium ion (Na+), which has the same electron configuration as neon (Ne).
Elements on the right side of the periodic table, such as those in Group 17 (halogens) and Group 16 (chalcogens), have a tendency to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas. By gaining electrons, these elements form negatively charged ions (anions). For instance, chlorine (Cl) in Group 17 gains one electron to become a chloride ion (Cl-), which has the same electron configuration as argon (Ar).
However, it's important to note that not all elements strictly follow this pattern. Transition metals in the middle of the periodic table can have multiple oxidation states, and their electron configurations are more complex. Additionally, elements in the inner transition metals (lanthanides and actinides) have unique electron configurations and exhibit varied chemical behavior.
Furthermore, elements in the noble gases group (Group 18) already have a stable electron configuration with a full complement of valence electrons (8 in the case of helium, 8 for all others). They have little tendency to gain or lose electrons since their electron configurations are already highly stable.
Overall, while the tendency to gain or lose electrons to achieve a noble gas-like electron configuration is a general trend, there are exceptions and variations based on the specific element and its electron configuration.