What happens to the charge of an atom when it loses an electron?

When an atom loses an electron, it has fewer negatively charged particles than positively charged protons. Electrons carry a negative charge, so when one is removed, the balance between protons and electrons is disrupted. This results in a net positive charge because there are now more protons (which are positively charged) than there are electrons. Thus, the atom becomes positively charged, indicating that it has formed a cation. This charge change is fundamental in understanding how ions are formed and how they behave in various chemical reactions.