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an atom becomes a cation when the atom loses electrons during a reaction, and it becomes an anion when the atom gains electrons in a reaction it accepts an additional electron.
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Is an atom of potassium most likely to become a cation or an anion?

An atom of potassium is most likely to become a cation. Potassium tends to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming a positively charged ion.


What happens with the electrons when an atom froms a cation and an anion?

A cation is an atom that has lost one or more electrons. An anion is an atom that has gained one or more electrons.


If a neutral atom gains or loses electrons it acquires a charge and becomes an?

This neutral atom become a cation or an anion.


What does an atom that has lost or gained an electron become?

Generically an "ion", specifically gained an electron an "anion", lost and electron a "cation".


What is the name given to an atom that has become charged?

It depends, a proton if is is positively charged ( +) electron if it is negatively charged ( - )


What kinds of ions do a sodium atom and a chlorine atom become when a valence electron is tranferred from one to the other?

Sodium becomes a cation and chlorine becomes an anion.


What is a charged atom?

A charged atom is an ion. A positively charged version is a cation and a negatively charged one, an anion.


Is chlorine a cation or anion?

As Chlorine it is an ATOM. However, if it gains an electron to becomes Cl^(-) (Chloride) then it is an ANION.


What is an atom called after an ionic bond?

Ions. And they can also be called anion or cation depending on their charges. An anion is a negative ion, a cation is a positive ion.


Is silver a cation or anion?

Silver is normally not a cation or an anion, it is an element. Once it becomes an ion however, it will become a CATION with a +1 charge (Ag^+).


What is an atom that has given up or gained electrons?

Atoms that have lost or gained one or more electrons are called ions.An atom that has gained and electron is an anion; and atom that has lost an electron is a cation. Gaining an electron means the anion has a negative charge; losing one or more electrons means the atom has a positive charge.


What are atoms called when they become charged positively or negative?

In general, an atom with a charge, either positive or negative, is called an ion.A positively charged atom is called a cation and a negatively charged atom is an anion.