What is an ion?

A. An atom that has lost or gained 1 or more electrons

O B. An atom that has lost or gained 1 or more neutrons

O C. An atom that has lost or gained 1 or more protons

D. An atom that differs in mass from another atom of the same

element

An ion is an atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons.

Explanation:

Ions are positively or negatively charged atoms of elements. This is because they can give, take, or share electrons with other elements to encourage the formation of chemical bonds.

Protons are what decide the chemical identity of the element. So, for example, if an atom has 11 protons, we know that will be a Sodium (Na) atom. A loss or gain of protons completely changes the chemical identity of the element and it will then become another element.

Electrons are what give an atom a neutral electrical charge (if that atom has the number of protons and neutrons normally described for the element - otherwise, a discrepancy or gain in neutrons is referred to as an isotope and declares that ions have nothing to do with the mass of an element).

With this information, you can realize that neutrons and protons have nothing to do with ions and you can confirm that ions are atoms that have lost or gained one or more electrons.