To determine the charge of a gallium ion, we first recognize that gallium, represented by the symbol Ga, is located in group 13 of the periodic table. Elements in this group, which are primarily metals, typically exhibit a tendency to lose electrons. This behavior is driven by the desire to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to that of the nearest noble gas.

Gallium commonly loses three electrons, resulting in a charge of +3. This is characteristic of group 13 elements, which generally form cations with a +3 charge. Therefore, when predicting the charge of a gallium ion, we conclude that it would possess a charge of +3.