What happens if an atom loses an electron?

• A. It becomes negatively charged
• B. It becomes positively charged
• C. It becomes neutral
• D. It becomes larger

Answer: (B)

Removing an electron changes the balance of positive and negative charges in the atom. Electrons are negative and protons are positive, so when you remove one electron from a neutral atom, there are more protons than electrons. That extra positive charge means the atom becomes positively charged, i.e., it forms a cation. It wouldn’t become negatively charged because you’re not adding negative charge. It wouldn’t stay neutral for the same reason. And while removing electrons can affect size, a single loss of an electron typically doesn’t make the atom larger; the net effect is a positive charge with fewer electrons.