How does an ion differ from a neutral atom of the same element?

• A. An ion has a different number of protons than a neutral atom, changing the element into a different one.
• B. An ion has a different number of electrons than protons, giving it a net electrical charge.
• C. An ion has a different number of neutrons than a neutral atom, giving it a net electrical charge.
• D. An ion always has more electrons than protons, so it is always negatively charged.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the identity of an element is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus, which is called the atomic number. This number does not change when forming ions.
2. Understand that a neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no net electrical charge.
3. Recognize that an ion forms when an atom gains or loses electrons, changing the balance between protons and electrons.
4. Note that because the number of protons remains the same, the element itself does not change when it becomes an ion.
5. Conclude that the key difference is that an ion has a different number of electrons compared to protons, which gives it a net positive or negative electrical charge.