neutral equal electrons Atomic Number = Protons Element Symbol Element Name Mass Number
3 3 4 3 7 Lithium neutron proton electron nucleus
element neutrons 2 2 1 and 2 2 3 and 4 Helium-3 and Helium-4
An ion is a charge atom in which the electron number is different than the proton number. If the electron number is less than the proton number, the particle is a positive ion called a cation. If the electron number is greater than the proton number, the particle is a negative ion called an anion. The charge is placed after the chemical symbol as a superscript. Mg 2+ Cl — Magnesium cation Chlorine anion