For a neutrally-charged atom to become a positively-charged atom of the same element, it must ____.
A)lose a proton
B)lose an electron
C)gain a proton
D)gain a neutron
E)form a covalent bond

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. To become positively charged, it must lose one or more electrons, which are negatively charged. Losing a proton would change the identity of the element, and gaining a proton or neutron would also change the identity of the element. Forming a covalent bond involves sharing of electrons, but does not result in a net charge change for the atoms involved.

For a Neutrally-Charged Atom to Become a Positively-Charged Atom of the Same