What happens if an atom gains an electron?

What happens if an atom gains an electron?

• A. It becomes magnetized
• B. It becomes neutral
• C. It becomes positively charged
• D. It becomes negatively charged

Answer: (D)

Gaining an electron adds negative charge to the atom without changing the number of protons in the nucleus. Since protons are positive, this extra electron flips the net charge to negative, so the atom becomes negatively charged (an anion). Magnetization isn’t the automatic result of adding an electron, and neutrality would only occur if the atom somehow balanced its charges; for a neutral atom, adding an electron makes it negatively charged, not positively.

Gaining an electron adds negative charge to the atom without changing the number of protons in the nucleus. Since protons are positive, this extra electron flips the net charge to negative, so the atom becomes negatively charged (an anion). Magnetization isn’t the automatic result of adding an electron, and neutrality would only occur if the atom somehow balanced its charges; for a neutral atom, adding an electron makes it negatively charged, not positively.