what is the difference between an atom and an ion
Atom vs Ion. Atom is the smallest neutral unit which can form bonds. And ion is any charged molecule. Ion may be composed of several atoms or a single atom. Atoms are unique and are single type. Ions are two types, positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions). The main difference between atom and ion is the charge. Atom is electrically neutral while ion is electrically charged. Always atom contains an equal number of electrons and protons, but in an ion the number of electrons and protons are always different. The maximum number of positive charges that an ion can have is 6. And the maximum number of negative charges is 3.