How does an atom become a positive ion? A negative ion? What ...

[Davideckstein7]

How does an atom become a positive ion? A negative ion?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is the difference between an atom and an ion?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[lin77x]

Answer to Question 1

A positive ion has lost one or more electrons, leaving the positively charged protons in the nucleus without a balancing negative charge on the particle, resulting in a positively charged ion. A negative ion has gained one or more electrons, adding more negative charge to the orbital shells, resulting in a negatively charged ion.

Answer to Question 2

An ion is an atom that has become positively charged or negatively charged by losing one or more valence electrons or gaining one or more valence electrons, respectively.