Atoms form ions by transferring electrons.

Quick Scoop

When atoms become ions, they either lose or gain electrons in their outer (valence) shell.

  • Losing electrons gives a positively charged ion called a cation.
  • Gaining electrons gives a negatively charged ion called an anion.

The number of protons in the nucleus does not change during this process, so the atom’s identity stays the same; only its charge changes because the electron count has changed.

Answer for the question “atoms form ions by transferring which type of atomic particle?”: electrons.

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