Chapter 3 - Section 3.3 - Why Atoms Bond - Concept Checks - Page 80: 1

The main difference between an atom and an ion lies in their electrical charge. Here's a breakdown of their characteristics: Atom: - An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties. - It consists of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. - Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons have no charge (neutral), and electrons carry a negative charge. - In an atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, resulting in a neutral overall charge. - The neutral atom has no net charge and is represented by its atomic symbol. Ion: - An ion is an atom or a group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge. - When an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion called an anion. - When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion called a cation. - The number of protons remains the same in an ion, but the number of electrons changes, creating an imbalance of positive or negative charge. - Ions are represented by their atomic symbol followed by a superscript indicating the charge, such as Na+ for a sodium cation or Cl- for a chloride anion. In summary, the key difference between an atom and an ion is that an atom is electrically neutral, with the number of protons equaling the number of electrons, while an ion has a net positive or negative charge due to a gain or loss of electrons.

The main difference between an atom and an ion lies in their electrical charge. Here's a breakdown of their characteristics: Atom: - An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties. - It consists of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. - Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons have no charge (neutral), and electrons carry a negative charge. - In an atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, resulting in a neutral overall charge. - The neutral atom has no net charge and is represented by its atomic symbol. Ion: - An ion is an atom or a group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge. - When an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion called an anion. - When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion called a cation. - The number of protons remains the same in an ion, but the number of electrons changes, creating an imbalance of positive or negative charge. - Ions are represented by their atomic symbol followed by a superscript indicating the charge, such as Na+ for a sodium cation or Cl- for a chloride anion. In summary, the key difference between an atom and an ion is that an atom is electrically neutral, with the number of protons equaling the number of electrons, while an ion has a net positive or negative charge due to a gain or loss of electrons.