What happens to protons and electrons when an atom becomes charged?

When an atom becomes charged, it typically gains or loses electrons, resulting in the formation of ions. If an atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes positively charged (cation), while gaining electrons leads to a negative charge (anion). Protons, which reside in the nucleus and carry a positive charge, remain unchanged during this process, as they are not involved in the atomic interactions that lead to charging. Thus, the overall charge of the atom is determined by the imbalance between protons and electrons.