Question
What an ion? An atom with a negative charge An atom with a positive or negative charge An atom with no charge An atom with a positive charge
Answer
4
(180 Votes)
Xanthe
Veteran · Tutor for 9 years
Answer
The correct answer is 'An atom with a positive or negative charge'.
Explanation
## Step 1An ion is an atom or molecule that has an electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons. This means that an ion can either be positively charged or negatively charged.## Step 2When an atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, also known as a cation. This is because the number of protons (which carry a positive charge) in the atom's nucleus now exceeds the number of electrons (which carry a negative charge).## Step 3When an atom gains one or more electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion, also known as an anion. This is because the number of electrons (which carry a negative charge) in the atom's outer shell now exceeds the number of protons (which carry a positive charge).## Step 4A neutral atom, on the other hand, has an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no overall charge.## Step 5The options suggesting atoms that only have a negative charge or only a positive charge are too restrictive. An ion can be either positively or negatively charged, depending on whether it has lost or gained electrons.