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The number if electrons it has. Neutral atoms have the same number of protons (pos charge) as electrons (neg charge). When atoms gain or lose electrons (to become more stable), they become ions.

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What change will occur if an atom gains electrons?

The atom becomes a negative ion.


When the number of electrons changes the atom becomes what?

When the number of electrons changes, the atom becomes an ion. An atom becomes a positively charged ion (cation) when it loses electrons and a negatively charged ion (anion) when it gains electrons.


What happens to the structure of an atom to change the atom into an ion?

An atom becomes an ion by gaining or losing electrons. When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation) as it has more protons than electrons. On the other hand, when an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion (anion) as it has more electrons than protons.


How will electron configuration of the atom change when the atom becomes an ion?

When an atom becomes an ion, it gains or loses electrons to achieve a full outer electron shell, resulting in a change in electron configuration. For example, a neutral sodium atom (1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1) loses one electron to become a sodium ion (1s2 2s2 2p6). The electron configuration of the ion reflects this change in the number of electrons.


What happens when atom looses electron?

If an atom loosed electrons then it becomes an ion. The electrical charge in the atom becomes a positive ion.


What is an atom called when it has a charge?

An atom with a charge is called an ion. If the atom gains electrons, it becomes a negative ion (anion), while if it loses electrons, it becomes a positive ion (cation).


What happens when an atom loses an electron from its outer most shell?

well The electrons on that shell have nowhere to go so they jump off and become ionised


When an atom gains an electron the atom becomes an ion that?

yes...on gaining an electron, the atom becomes an anion i.e. negatively charged ion.


An atom that gains an electron gains what type of ion?

an atom that gains an electron becomes a negative ion, called an anion.


What happens when a atom gains an electron?

When an atom gains an electron, it becomes negatively charged and forms an anion. This process is known as reduction, and it can change the chemical properties of the atom by affecting its reactivity and ability to form bonds.


An atom that loses or gains electrons becomes a?

An atom that loses electrons becomes a positively charged ion called a cation. An atom that gains electrons becomes a negatively charged ion called an anion.


When a atom loses or gains electrons it becomes an?

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion called a cation. When an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion called an anion.