When a neutral atom loses an electron, how would it be described?

• A. As an excited ion
• B. As a negative ion
• C. As a positive ion
• D. As a neutral ion

Answer: (C)

When a neutral atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged because electrons carry a negative charge. The loss of this negatively charged electron results in an imbalance between the number of protons (which are positively charged) and the remaining electrons, leading to a net positive charge. This positively charged particle is referred to as a positive ion or cation.

The concept of ions is fundamental in chemistry; an ion is formed when an atom either gains or loses electrons. An atom that has lost one or more electrons is always positively charged, as there are more protons than electrons remaining. This is why the description of the atom in this scenario is as a positive ion, clearly distinguishing its state from other possibilities like a negative ion, which would result from gaining an electron, or remaining neutral with equal protons and electrons, which doesn’t occur when an electron is lost.