* Electrons have a negative charge. Each electron carries a single negative charge.
* Protons have a positive charge. The nucleus of an atom contains protons, which have a positive charge equal in magnitude to the electron's negative charge.
* Neutral atoms have an equal number of protons and electrons. This means the positive and negative charges balance out, resulting in a neutral atom.
When an atom gains an electron:
* The number of electrons becomes greater than the number of protons.
* The negative charge outweighs the positive charge, resulting in a net negative charge.
This negatively charged atom is now called an anion.
