Problem 6 What is an atom that has gained ... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 20: Problem 6

What is an atom that has gained or lost electrons called?

Short Answer

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An ion.

Step by step solution

Understanding Atoms

Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, while electrons orbit the nucleus.

Identifying Electron Changes

When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes charged because the number of electrons no longer equals the number of protons.

Defining an Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons is called an ion. If it gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). If it loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

atom

An atom is the basic unit of matter. It is composed of three main particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
An atom's protons and neutrons reside in its nucleus, forming a dense core. Electrons orbit this nucleus in regions called electron shells or clouds.
The number of protons (also called the atomic number) determines the element. For instance, hydrogen has one proton, while carbon has six.

electrons

Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. They are much smaller than protons and neutrons.
The distribution of electrons around the nucleus follows specific patterns and energy levels.
Understanding the behavior of electrons is crucial for explaining chemical reactions and bonding. When atoms interact, they often gain, lose, or share electrons to become more stable.

charge

Charge refers to the electrical property of particles. Atoms are normally neutral because the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes charged. This imbalance creates ions, which have either positive or negative charges.
Positive charge happens when there are more protons than electrons. Conversely, negative charge happens when there are more electrons than protons.

cation

A cation is a positively charged ion. It forms when an atom loses one or more electrons.
Since losing electrons decreases the negative charge, the atom's overall charge becomes positive.
Common examples of cations include sodium (Na鈦�), calcium (Ca虏鈦�), and aluminum (Al鲁鈦�). Cations are typically found in various chemical compounds such as salts.

anion

An anion is a negatively charged ion. It forms when an atom gains one or more electrons.
With more electrons than protons, the atom's overall charge becomes negative.
Examples of anions include chloride (Cl鈦�), oxide (O虏鈦�), and nitrate (NO鈧冣伝). Anions also play significant roles in the formation of compounds and reactions, particularly in ionic bonds.

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91影视

What is an atom that has gained or lost electrons called?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Atoms

Identifying Electron Changes

Defining an Ion

Key Concepts

atom

electrons

charge

cation

anion

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