GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -When an atom gains or loses electrons to form an ion, its name sometimes changes. Main group metals retain their name when forming cations. K+ is a potassium ion, and Mg2+ is a magnesium ion.

Detailed explanation-2: -When a metal atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged. Ion is an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Detailed explanation-3: -Metals tend to lose electrons and form positively charged ions called cations. Non-metals tend to gain electrons and form negatively charged ions called anions.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cations and anions are charged species which are formed by losing and gaining electron(s) respectively to attain the nearest noble gas configuration or stability. Usually metals lose their valence electrons to form cations while non-metals accept electrons and form anions.

Detailed explanation-5: -Atoms can gain, lose, or share electrons during a chemical change. Why doesn’t this cause the atoms’ identities to change? Chemical changes do not affect the nucleus of an atom. For this reason, an atom has the ability to retain its properties or identity even if the number of electrons is different.