Multiple Choice
Which of the following is NOT a cation?
1
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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What happens to an atom when it gains an electron?
A
It remains electrically neutral.
B
It becomes a positively charged ion (cation).
C
It loses a proton.
D
It becomes a negatively charged ion (anion).
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that an atom is electrically neutral when it has an equal number of protons (positive charges) and electrons (negative charges).
When an atom gains an electron, it increases the number of negatively charged particles without changing the number of positively charged protons.
Since electrons carry a negative charge, gaining an electron adds extra negative charge to the atom.
This imbalance causes the atom to have more negative charges than positive charges, resulting in a net negative charge.
An atom with a net negative charge is called an anion, which is a negatively charged ion.
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