An Atom Becomes an Ion When

Question

An atom becomes an ion when:
A) it gains or loses neutrons.
B) it forms a covalent bond.
C) it gains or loses electrons.
D) hydrogen ions are shared.
E) it gains or loses protons.

Accepted Answer

An ion is an atom or molecule that has an unequal number of protons and electrons. It becomes an ion when it gains or loses one or more electrons. This changes the overall charge of the atom/molecule, making it positively or negatively charged.