The Concept of Electrical Charge in Atoms

What is an atom with an electrical charge known as?

1) isotope
2) molecule
3) ion
4) compound
Final answer:

Answer:

An atom that has gained or lost electrons, which results in an electrical charge, is known as an ion. The correct option is 3.

An atom with an electrical charge is a ion. This happens when an atom gains or loses electrons, resulting in a mismatch between the number of protons and electrons. Since the electric charge of one electron is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the charge of one proton, an ion can have either a positive or negative charge. An anion is an ion with a negative charge, while a cation would be an ion with a positive charge. Ionic bonds are the electrostatic forces of attraction that occur between ions with opposite charges in an ionic compound.