Question

What is the difference between an ion and an atom?

Answer 1

Atoms vs. Ions. Atoms are neutral; they contain the same number of protons as electrons. By definition, an ion is an electrically charged particle produced by either removing electrons from a neutral atom to give a positive ion or adding electrons to a neutral atom to give a negative ion.

Answer 2

Atoms are neutral; they contain the same number of protons as electrons. An Ion is an electrically charged particle produced by either removing electrons from a neutral atom to give a positive ion or adding electrons to a neutral atom to give a negative ion.