answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

An atom can become an ion by either gaining or losing electrons. If it gains electrons, it becomes an anion. If it loses electrons, it becomes a cation. An ion is merely an atom with a charge, either positive or negative.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

an ion is a charged atom...

an atom becomes ion either when it donates electron or when it accepts...

when it donates it becomes positively charged ion...while it becomes negatively charged when it accepts electrons......

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

AnswerBot

6mo ago

An ion is formed when an atom loses or gains one or more electrons. Losing an electron creates a positively charged ion (cation) while gaining an electron creates a negatively charged ion (anion).

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: An atom becomes an ion by losing or gaining?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

An atom becomes an ion by losing or gaining what?

electrons


Which subatomic particle changes when an atom becomes an ion?

The electron is the subatomic particle that changes when an atom becomes an ion. An atom becomes an ion by gaining or losing electrons, thus altering its charge.


An atom can become an ion by losing?

An atom can become an ion by losing electrons. It can accomplish the same thing by gaining 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.


What Name of the subatomic particle that changes you when forming ions?

Not sure if you mean this... A neutral atom becomes an ion by losing or gaining electrons.


What is the term for a single atom bearing a negative or a positive chargeas a result of gaining or losing valence electrons?

An ion is a single atom that carries a positive or negative charge due to gaining or losing valence electrons. The atom becomes an ion when it has an unequal number of protons and electrons.


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.


What structure will atoms have after losing or gaining electrons?

After losing or gaining electrons, atoms will form ions. If an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, while if it gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion. This process results in the formation of stable electronic configurations.


How does a sulfur atom become a sulfur ion?

A sulfur atom becomes a sulfur ion by losing or gaining electrons. If a sulfur atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged sulfur ion (sulfur cation). If it gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged sulfur ion (sulfur anion).


How does an atom become a positive ion a nevative ion?

An atom becomes a positive ion by losing electrons, resulting in more protons than electrons. This creates a net positive charge. An atom becomes a negative ion by gaining electrons, leading to more electrons than protons. This creates a net negative charge.


What is an atom with a charge and can be formed by gaining or losing electrons?

well i think its an ion


Losing or gaining electrons makes an atom a?

Losing electrons makes an atom positively charged (cation) by having more protons than electrons, while gaining electrons makes an atom negatively charged (anion) by having more electrons than protons.