Lanecia T. answered • 11/09/15
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Each atom is unique because it is made of a specific number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Usually, the number of protons and electrons is the same for an atom. And while the number of protons will never change for any atom because this would mean you have a completely different element, sometimes the number of electrons does change. When an atom gains or loses an electron, we get an ion. Since electrons themselves have a net negative charge, adding or removing electrons from an atom changes the charge of the atom. This is because the number of electrons is no longer in balance with the number of protons, which have a positive charge.
