What is an atom that has gained or lost electrons called?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-04T20:39:51

#"An ion............"#

Typically, metals lose electrons to form #"cations"#:

#Na rarr Na^+ + e^-#

This is an #"oxidation reaction"#.

And non-metals GAIN electrons to form #"anions"# in a #"reduction reaction"#:

#1/2O_2 + 2e^(-) rarr O^(2-)#

Of course we combine the reactions to give the overall redox reaction:

#2Na +1/2O_2 rarr Na_2O #