When an atom loses electrons it becomes ?
The correct answer and explanation is:
When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positive ion or cation.
Explanation: Atoms are neutral because they have an equal number of protons and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, while electrons have a negative charge. This balance results in no overall electrical charge. However, when an atom loses one or more electrons, the number of negatively charged particles (electrons) becomes smaller than the number of positively charged particles (protons). As a result, the atom now carries a net positive charge.
This positively charged particle is referred to as a cation. Cations are common in many chemical reactions, particularly in ionic bonding. For instance, in the formation of an ionic bond between a metal and a nonmetal, the metal atom tends to lose electrons. For example, a sodium (Na) atom has one electron in its outermost shell. When sodium loses this electron, it becomes a sodium ion (Na⁺) with a positive charge.
The process of losing electrons often occurs because the atom wants to achieve a more stable electron configuration, usually similar to that of the nearest noble gas. The energy required to remove an electron from an atom is called ionization energy. This energy varies between elements and is typically lower for metals, which readily lose electrons, compared to nonmetals.
Cations play a crucial role in various chemical processes, such as the conduction of electricity in aqueous solutions, the formation of salts, and the balance of ions in biological systems.
In summary, when an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positive ion (cation) because the loss results in an imbalance between protons and electrons, causing the atom to have a net positive charge.