Ions & Isotopes

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.

Front

What is a negative ion?

Back

A negative ion is an atom that has gained one or more electrons, giving it a negative charge.

Front

What is a positive ion?

Back

A positive ion is an atom that has lost one or more electrons, resulting in a positive charge.

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

An isotope is a variant of an element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Front

How do you determine the charge of an atom?

Back

The charge of an atom is determined by the difference between the number of protons (positive) and electrons (negative).

Front

What is a neutral atom?

Back

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no overall charge.

Front

If an atom has 4 protons and 2 electrons, what is its charge?

Back

+2 (It has a net positive charge due to more protons than electrons.)

Front

What happens to an atom when it gains electrons?

Back

When an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negative ion.

Front

What happens to an atom when it loses electrons?

Back

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positive ion.

Front

Can an atom be both an ion and an isotope?

Back

Yes, an atom can be an ion if it has a charge and also be an isotope if it has a different number of neutrons.