The difference between a positive and a negative charged atom?

Answer 1

First, if it is charged it is called an 'ion' and if it is positively charged it has lost one or more electrons from its outer parts and if it is negatively charged it has captured one or more electrons into its outer parts - as compared with its ground state which is when it has the same number of negative electrons in its outer parts as there are positively charged protons in its center and is therefore electrically neutral. all atoms are neutral, they have the same number of negatively charged electrons as they have positively charged protons (which is equal to the atomic number of that atom). metals can lose all of their valence electrons to get a complete outer orbital electron configuration, to form positively charged cations (+1, +2, and +3). They lose negatively charged electrons so they end up positive. ions are not atoms, they are atoms that have lost electrons or non-metals can gain electrons to fill their valence orbitals (becoming -1, -2, or -3). these nonmetals with extra electrons are anions, but anions are not atoms, they are atoms with extra electrons.