Can an atom turn into an ion on its own?
Can an atom turn into an ion on its own? Neutral atoms can be turned into positively charged ions by removing one or more electrons. A neutral sodium atom, for example, contains 11 protons and 11 electrons. By removing an electron from this atom we get a positively charged Na+ ion that has a net charge of +1. How does an atom form into an ion? An atom becomes an Ion (a) if it gains one or more electron(s) or (b) if it loses one or more electron(s). When it gains electrons it becomes negatively charged and is called an...