Why does an atom that has lost an electron have a positive charge?

Answer 1

Every atom has a positively charged nucleus containing protons, each with a 1+ charge. Electrons, each with a -1 charge surround the nucleus. In a neutral atom the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, so there is no net charge. If an atom loses electrons it will have more protons than electrons resulting in an overall positive charge.

For example, a neutral magnesium atom has 12 protons and 12 electrons, resulting in an ion with 12 protons and 10 electrons. Since there are two more protons than electrons in this ion, the overall charge is 2+

Answer 2

An atom that has lost an electron has a positive charge because the number of protons in the nucleus is now greater than the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus. Since protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative charge, having more protons than electrons results in a net positive charge.

Answer 3

When an atom loses a negative charge it is left with a positive charge because atoms tend to be balanced. The positively charged atom won't remain so for long because it will be attracted to negatively charged atoms.

Answer 4

An atom is made up of protons and neutrons with electrons that orbit the nucleus. Electrons have a negative charge, protons a positive charge, and neutrons no charge at all. When an electron leaves an atom's orbital, it removes a negative charge, leaving more protons than electrons, resulting in a positive charge (assuming the number of protons and electrons were equal).

Answer 5

Electrons are subatomic particles with a negative charge, whereas protons are subatomic particles with a positive charge. When a neutral atom loses an electron, it has one more proton that electron. Thus, this extra proton gives it a negative charge.

Answer 6

In the atom, the protons carry a positive charge, and the electrons carry an equal negative charge. In a regular atom of this element, the charges are equal and thus there is no net charge. If an electron is lost, a positively charged ion is created.

Answer 7

Electrons are negatively charged and protons are positively charged. In a normal atom the 2 are balanced so when it looses an electron it has more positive protons than negative electrons.

Answer 8

Electrons have a negative charge, therefore when you lose an electron there is more positive than negative giving the atom a positive charge.

Answer 9

Because it has more protons (+) than electrons (-)

Answer 10

It becomes a positive ion because an electron has a negative charge; therefore, when there are fewer electrons than protons the atom will have a positive charge.