* Hydrogen's Structure: A neutral hydrogen atom has one proton and one electron.

* Ion Formation: A hydrogen ion (H+) is formed when the hydrogen atom loses its only electron.

* Charge Imbalance: Since the proton carries a positive charge and the electron carries a negative charge, losing the electron leaves the hydrogen ion with a net positive charge.

In summary: Hydrogen ions are positively charged because they have lost their negatively charged electron.