What happens to an atom when it gains electrons?

When an atom gains electrons, it becomes an anion. This process occurs because electrons carry a negative charge, so adding more electrons to an atom increases its overall negative charge. Atoms are usually neutral, having an equal number of protons (which are positively charged) and electrons. When an atom gains one or more electrons, the balance shifts, leading to a net negative charge.

It’s important to understand that this change in charge is a fundamental part of ionic interactions and plays a critical role in the formation of ionic compounds. For instance, when a chlorine atom gains an electron, it becomes a chloride ion, which is a typical example of an anion. Thus, the transformation into an anion signifies that the atom now has more electrons than protons, resulting in a negatively charged species.