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An atom that gains or loses electrons is called an ion. If it gains electrons, it results in a negative ion called an anion. If it loses electrons, it results in a positive ion called a cation.

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An atom that gains or loses electrons becomes?

Electrons have a negative charge, so they are usually written as "e-". When an atom loses an electron, the net charge on the atom increases.Suppose a hydrogen atom is hanging out (note that hydrogen is diatomic, but ignore that part for now) and somehow loses its electron. The electron will get taken up by something else with a positive charge (opposite charges attract each other). In general it would look something like the following:H -> H+ + e-This positively charged hydrogen (H+ on the products side) is considered a Cation (cation's are positive as they have a T in them that looks like a +, anions don't have a T so they are what we call negatively charged anions).


What do you call atoms that gain or loose electrons?

== == == == The answer is an ionic atom.== ==when it gains an electron, it acquires partial negative charge and it's at.weight increaseswhen it looses electron; it acquires partial positive charge and at.weight decreases


When does an atom become ionized?

Why atoms form ions? Atoms form ionsin order to help another to obtain a full octet and to stabilize the valence shell. What happens when an atom forms a ion. charles jimingo


When an atom gains or loses a valence electron it becomes a charged particle call a?

Ion.


What do we call an atom that has an overall positive charge?

An atom with an overall positive charge is called a cation. Cations are formed when an atom loses electrons, leaving it with fewer electrons than protons, resulting in a net positive charge.

Related Questions

What do you call it when an atom loses and gains energy?

When and atom loses or gains enery, it becomes positivly or nevetivly charged and can become an ion.


What do you call an atom When an atom losses or gains electrons its called an?

cell


Is the net charge of an atom always zero?

The net charge of an atom is always zero, because if an atom gains or loses electrons, causing it to acquire a net charge, we then call it an ion, rather than an atom.


If the number of electrons and protons are not the same what do you call this?

When the number of electrons and protons are not the same in an atom, it becomes an ion. An atom becomes positively charged if it loses electrons (more protons than electrons), and negatively charged if it gains electrons (more electrons than protons).


Which atom is electrically neutral?

All atoms are electrically neutral. If an atom gains or loses an electron, we call it an "ion" rather than an atom.


What do you call an atom when it has an electric charge?

An atom with an electrical charge is called an ion.


An atom that gains or loses electrons becomes?

Electrons have a negative charge, so they are usually written as "e-". When an atom loses an electron, the net charge on the atom increases.Suppose a hydrogen atom is hanging out (note that hydrogen is diatomic, but ignore that part for now) and somehow loses its electron. The electron will get taken up by something else with a positive charge (opposite charges attract each other). In general it would look something like the following:H -> H+ + e-This positively charged hydrogen (H+ on the products side) is considered a Cation (cation's are positive as they have a T in them that looks like a +, anions don't have a T so they are what we call negatively charged anions).


What do you call atoms that gain or loose electrons?

== == == == The answer is an ionic atom.== ==when it gains an electron, it acquires partial negative charge and it's at.weight increaseswhen it looses electron; it acquires partial positive charge and at.weight decreases


What do you call an atom that is both an ion and an isotope?

You call it an ion of that isotope. Let's use carbon-14 for example. If a carbon-14 atom gains/loses an electron, you simply call it a "carbon-14 ion".


What Does the number of protons always equal to?

No An atom may have less, the same, or more neutrons than protons. The number of neutrons determine which isotope of an element you have. You do expect the number of protons and electrons to be the same however. If an atom loses or gains an electron to cause the number of electrons and protons to be mismatched we call that an ion rather than an atom.


When does an atom become ionized?

Why atoms form ions? Atoms form ionsin order to help another to obtain a full octet and to stabilize the valence shell. What happens when an atom forms a ion. charles jimingo


What element do you call that loses or gains electrons?

It is not always easy to tell whether an atom will lose or gain an electron in a reaction. However, this is a general rule that applies in many cases. Simply put, the atom with the higher electronegativity will gain an electron and the atom will a lower electronegativity will lose an electron.