Interpretation:
To choose the best response to describe an atom with an electric charge (an ion, a molecule, a nucleus, or radioactive).
Concept introduction:
Atoms have the same number of positively and negatively charged particles (Protons and electrons respectively), resulting in a neutral atom, where the positive and the negative charges are stabilized. If an atom either gains or loses the electrons, it will gain a positive or negative charge, in such a situation, the atom having its electric charge is said to be an ion.
Explanation:
An ion is an atom or molecule that has a non-zero net electrical charge. Thus, option (a) is correct.
Reason for incorrect option:
A molecule can be a single neutral atom or have many atoms with a net zero charge. Thus option (b) is incorrect.
The nucleus is the central core of the atom having protons and neutrons. Although it has a positive charge due to the protons, it is a part of the atom and doesn’t constitute the entire atom. Thus, the option (c) is incorrect.
Radioactivity is the process of disintegration of the nucleus of the atom into another atom, while concurrently releasing the radiation. Hence, the radioactivity is a process and not an entity. It is not an atom with a charge. Hence, option (d) is incorrect.
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