When an atom loses or gains a charge, it becomes an
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When an atom loses or gains a charge, it becomes an ion. An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive or negative electrical charge. If an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and is called a cation. On the other hand, if an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is called an anion. Ions are important in chemical reactions, as they can form bonds with other ions or molecules to form compounds.