What is the difference between a neutral atom and an ion?

a neutral atom has no charge, while an ion does.

Explanation:

cation = positive charge

anion = negative charge

Atoms vs. Ions. Atoms are neutral; they contain the same number of protons as electrons. By definition, an ion is an electrically charged particle produced by either removing electrons from a neutral atom to give a positive ion or adding electrons to a neutral atom to give a negative ion. When an ion is formed, the number of protons does not change