Which term describes an atom of hydrogen that has lost its electron?

Which term describes an atom of hydrogen that has lost its electron?

• A. Hydrogen ion (H+)
• B. Base
• C. pH
• D. Salt

Answer: (A)

Losing an electron leaves the atom with a positive charge, since there are more protons than electrons. For hydrogen, removing its single electron leaves only the nucleus, which is a proton. The term for this species is a hydrogen ion, written H+. In solution this is often seen as a proton or, when in water, associated with hydronium, but the particle itself is the hydrogen ion. This differs from a base (a substance that can accept protons or donate OH−), pH (a scale of hydrogen ion concentration), and salt (an ionic compound formed from an acid and a base).

Losing an electron leaves the atom with a positive charge, since there are more protons than electrons. For hydrogen, removing its single electron leaves only the nucleus, which is a proton. The term for this species is a hydrogen ion, written H+. In solution this is often seen as a proton or, when in water, associated with hydronium, but the particle itself is the hydrogen ion. This differs from a base (a substance that can accept protons or donate OH−), pH (a scale of hydrogen ion concentration), and salt (an ionic compound formed from an acid and a base).