Question

Which of the following does not describe an ion: positive, negative, or neutral?

Answer 1

An ion contains an `"EXCESS or DEFICIENCY"` of electrons.......so you tell us!

Explanation:

A neutral atom can lose an electron to become a cation:

`MrarrM^(+) + e^-`

Or gain an electron to become an anion:

`M+e^(-)rarrM^-`

So which is the neutral species?

Note that all chemical reactions conserve mass and charge. Are mass and charge conserved here? How? Why can't a given atom lose the other, POSITIVELY charged, particle.