Why does a neutral atom bacome negatively charged when it gains an electron?
A neutral atom becomes a negatively charged atom when it gains an electron because electrons are negatively charged. An atom contains protons, neutrons, and electrons. These are called subatomic particles. Neutrons have no charge. Protons are positively charged. Electrons are negatively charged. All atoms are neutral unless one a charged subatomic particle is removed or added. This is called an ionic bond. So being that the atom is at first neutral, when it gains a negatively charged electron, the atom will become negatively charged.
