What is a Charged Atom?

• All atoms by their nature are electrically neutral, meaning they have equal numbers of protons and electrons. The protons carry a positive charge and the electrons carry a negative charge. Because electrons are weakly bound to atoms, however, the passage of other nearby atoms can strip them away. An atom that loses or gains electrons in this fashion is called an ion. An atom with more electrons that protons is referred to as a negative ion, while those with more protons are identified as positive ions. These charged atoms are responsible for many processes, such as electrical current and chemical reactions.