What happens to an atom that loses a negatively-charged electron?

When an atom loses a negatively charged electron, it results in the atom having more protons than electrons. Since protons carry a positive charge, the overall charge of the atom changes to positive. This phenomenon transforms the atom into a positive ion, also known as a cation.

In the context of atomic structure, an atom is neutral when it has an equal number of protons (positively charged) and electrons (negatively charged). Losing an electron disrupts this balance, making the atom positively charged. The other potential outcomes, such as becoming a neutral atom or remaining unchanged, do not account for the loss of an electron's negative charge and the resulting charge shift.