NMAT Chemistry Practice Test

A negatively charged ion is called a?

Anion Electron Cation Neutron

Correct Answer:

Anion

Explanation:

When atoms gain electrons, they become negatively charged ions. The species with that negative charge is called an anion. This contrasts with cations, which form when atoms lose electrons and carry a positive charge. An electron is a negatively charged particle, not an ion by itself, and a neutron is neutral. For example, chlorine that gains an electron forms Cl− (an anion), while sodium that loses an electron forms Na+ (a cation). The suffix -ide often appears in simple anions, like oxide (O2−) or chloride (Cl−). The key idea is that a negative charge identifies the species as an anion.

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