Ionization is defined as what happens to an atom?

Ionization is defined as what happens to an atom?

• A. A host atom gains an electron
• B. A host atom loses an electron and becomes positively charged
• C. A host atom loses a neutron
• D. A photon is emitted

Answer: (B)

Ionization is the process of removing electrons from an atom. When an electron is removed, there are fewer electrons than protons, so the atom becomes positively charged. Gaining an electron would form a negatively charged ion, which is not ionization in this context. Losing a neutron doesn’t affect the electrons, and emitting a photon is not ionizing the atom. So the defining idea is that the atom loses an electron and becomes positively charged.

Ionization is the process of removing electrons from an atom. When an electron is removed, there are fewer electrons than protons, so the atom becomes positively charged. Gaining an electron would form a negatively charged ion, which is not ionization in this context. Losing a neutron doesn’t affect the electrons, and emitting a photon is not ionizing the atom. So the defining idea is that the atom loses an electron and becomes positively charged.