A charged atom or molecule is called what?

Prepare for your College Biology Exam 1 with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Test your understanding with detailed explanations and hints to ensure success in your biology exam!

Multiple Choice

A charged atom or molecule is called what?

Explanation:
Being charged means there’s an imbalance of charge on the particle, caused by gaining or losing electrons. When this happens to an atom or molecule, the whole thing is called an ion. If electrons are lost, it becomes positively charged (a cation); if electrons are gained, it becomes negatively charged (an anion). An atom is only charged when its electrons don’t balance its protons, but in its neutral form it’s not an ion. Electrons and protons are the individual charged particles inside atoms, but the term for the charged whole is ion.

Being charged means there’s an imbalance of charge on the particle, caused by gaining or losing electrons. When this happens to an atom or molecule, the whole thing is called an ion. If electrons are lost, it becomes positively charged (a cation); if electrons are gained, it becomes negatively charged (an anion). An atom is only charged when its electrons don’t balance its protons, but in its neutral form it’s not an ion. Electrons and protons are the individual charged particles inside atoms, but the term for the charged whole is ion.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy