The atom is the basic unit in chemistry. an atom contains neutrons, protons, and electrons. neutrons are neutral, protons have a positive charge, and electrons have a negative charge. most of the time, atoms are neutrally charged, meaning that they have the same number of protons and electrons. sometimes, though, atoms lose or gain one or more electrons, and become positively or negatively charged. a positively or negatively charged atom is called an ion. an ion with more protons than electrons is positively charged. an ion with more electrons than protons is negatively charged. one common ion is a sodium ion, which has a charge of +1.

which of the following statements is true?

the ion has more protons than electrons.

the ion has the same number of protons and electrons.

the ion has more electrons than protons.