Which statement about ions is correct?

• A. Molecules are charged particles.
• B. Ions are always neutral.
• C. Ions do not interact with other atoms.
• D. An ion carries a net charge.

Answer: (D)

Ions are atoms or molecules that have lost or gained electrons, giving them a net electrical charge. That net charge is what distinguishes an ion from a neutral atom or molecule. When an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged (a cation); when it gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged (an anion). Because protons and electrons no longer balance, there’s a leftover charge that can interact with other charged species.

That’s why the statement about carrying a net charge is the correct description of ions. The other ideas are not accurate: many molecules are neutral, so saying they are always charged isn’t true; ions are not necessarily neutral—by definition they have a charge; and ions do interact with other atoms or ions via electrostatic forces, not in isolation.