Electrically Charged Atoms: What You Need to Know

What is an electrically charged atom?

A. ion B. isotope C. molecule D. compound

The answer is A.

An electrically charged atom is known as an ion.

Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. Atoms are neutral when they contain the same number of protons and electrons.

However, an ion is formed when an atom gains or loses electrons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge. Ions play a crucial role in various chemical reactions and biological processes.

There are two types of ions: cations and anions. Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons, while anions are negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons.

Overall, ions are essential for maintaining balance in nature and are fundamental to our understanding of chemistry and physics.