What is an anion?

What is an anion?

• A. A positively charged ion
• B. A neutrally charged atom
• C. A negatively charged ion
• D. A charged atom with equal protons and electrons

Answer: (C)

An anion is defined as a negatively charged ion. This occurs when an atom gains one or more electrons, resulting in an excess of electrons compared to protons. Because electrons carry a negative charge, the overall charge of the atom becomes negative, distinguishing anions from cations, which are positively charged ions formed by the loss of electrons. The other options do not describe anions correctly. A positively charged ion refers to a cation, while a neutrally charged atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, which does not classify it as an ion at all. Similarly, a charged atom with equal protons and electrons would still be neutral since the positive and negative charges would balance each other out, contradicting the definition of an anion. Therefore, the characterization of an anion as a negatively charged ion is accurate and aligns with the fundamental concepts of atomic structure and charge.

An anion is defined as a negatively charged ion. This occurs when an atom gains one or more electrons, resulting in an excess of electrons compared to protons. Because electrons carry a negative charge, the overall charge of the atom becomes negative, distinguishing anions from cations, which are positively charged ions formed by the loss of electrons.

The other options do not describe anions correctly. A positively charged ion refers to a cation, while a neutrally charged atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, which does not classify it as an ion at all. Similarly, a charged atom with equal protons and electrons would still be neutral since the positive and negative charges would balance each other out, contradicting the definition of an anion. Therefore, the characterization of an anion as a negatively charged ion is accurate and aligns with the fundamental concepts of atomic structure and charge.