Here's why:
* Protons: These particles reside in the atom's nucleus and carry a positive (+) charge.
* Electrons: These particles orbit the nucleus and carry a negative (-) charge.
* Neutrons: These particles also reside in the nucleus but carry no charge (they are neutral).
Here's how it works:
* Neutral Atoms: A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, so the positive and negative charges balance out, resulting in a net charge of zero.
* Ions: When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion.
* Cations: If an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged (more protons than electrons) and is called a cation.
* Anions: If an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged (more electrons than protons) and is called an anion.
Therefore, the charge of an atom is determined by the difference between the number of protons and electrons.
