Question

What is an ion and how is it different from an atom?

Answer 1

Ion : A molecule with a net electric charge due to loss or gain of an electron

Atom: the smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist

So, the main difference between an atom and an ion has to do with net electric charge .An ion is a collection of net particles with a net positive or electric charges

A stable atom consist the same no. of electrons as protons and no net charge