Which term describes a charged particle formed when an atom gains or loses electrons?

Which term describes a charged particle formed when an atom gains or loses electrons?

• A. Ion
• B. Atom
• C. Electron
• D. Proton

Answer: (A)

When an atom gains or loses electrons, the balance between positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons is no longer equal, creating a particle with a net electric charge. This charged particle is called an ion. If electrons are removed, you get a positively charged ion (a cation); if electrons are added, you get a negatively charged ion (an anion). An electron is just the particle that can be gained or lost, not the whole charged entity. An atom refers to the neutral (or sometimes charged) collection of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but the specific term for the charged outcome of changing electron count is ion. Protons are the positively charged components in the nucleus and don’t describe the result of electron transfer. For example, sodium losing an electron becomes Na+, and chlorine gaining an electron becomes Cl−.

When an atom gains or loses electrons, the balance between positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons is no longer equal, creating a particle with a net electric charge. This charged particle is called an ion. If electrons are removed, you get a positively charged ion (a cation); if electrons are added, you get a negatively charged ion (an anion). An electron is just the particle that can be gained or lost, not the whole charged entity. An atom refers to the neutral (or sometimes charged) collection of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but the specific term for the charged outcome of changing electron count is ion. Protons are the positively charged components in the nucleus and don’t describe the result of electron transfer. For example, sodium losing an electron becomes Na+, and chlorine gaining an electron becomes Cl−.