What occurs to an atom with a negative charge?

If an atom loses an electron, it decreases its negative charge, leading to a more positive overall charge. This process results in a positively charged ion, known as a cation, rather than a negatively charged atom. Therefore, losing an electron cannot account for the atom's negative charge.

Gaining a proton would increase the positive charge of the atom, resulting in a positively charged ion. Since protons are positively charged, their addition would not contribute to a negative charge; rather, it would increase the atom's overall positive charge, moving it further away from being negatively charged.

Losing a proton also results in a decrease in positive charge, which could lead to a neutral or negatively charged atom if the loss surpasses the electron count. However, the direct cause of a negative charge is not simply the loss of protons but the gain of electrons. Thus, losing a proton does not explain the presence of a negative charge.