Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) G3 Practice Exam

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An atom that has gained one or more free electrons is categorized as a?

  1. Positive ion

  2. Negative ion

  3. Electrically neutral

  4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Negative ion

An atom that has gained one or more free electrons becomes categorized as a negative ion. This occurs because electrons carry a negative charge; when an atom acquires additional electrons, it accumulates more negative charge than positive charge (which is due to protons in the nucleus). This imbalance leads to the atom having an overall negative charge, thus designating it as a negative ion or anion. In contrast, when an atom loses electrons, it results in fewer negative charges than positive charges, leading to a positive ion or cation. Therefore, the distinction between gaining and losing electrons is fundamental in understanding ion formation.

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