How are ions different from an electrically neutral atom

The charge from a proton or electron are of equal strength, therefore if an atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, it will be electrically neutral. However, atoms are not always electrically neutral, in which case they are called ions. (scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=4554)

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in 1783 cavendish was working with his hydrogen gas and found that when he burned it and condensed the vapor it was water. this was very significant since it disproved the greek theory of elements completely since water was not a simple substance but the product of two gases. it was lavoisier who hearing of the experiment gave cavendish's gas the name hydrogen ("water-producer") and added that hydrogen burned by combining with oxygen and that water was a hydrogen-oxygen combination.

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