A fluorine atom has nine protons and nine electrons, so it is electrically neutral. If a fluorine atom gains an electron, it becomes a fluoride ion with an electric charge of -1.

Is fluorine negative or positive charge?

But now fluorine has ten electrons but only nine protons. Its charge is unbalanced. It has an extra electron, and so it has a negative charge. An atom with one or more extra charges is called an “ion”.

What is the most likely charge of fluorine?

For example, fluorine has seven valence electrons, so it is most likely to gain one electron to form an ion with a 1- charge.