In an ionic bond, what charge does the atom that loses electrons acquire?

In an ionic bond, the atom that loses electrons acquires a positive charge because losing negatively charged electrons results in the atom having more protons than electrons. This imbalance causes the atom to become a positively charged ion, also known as a cation. Ionic bonding occurs between metals and nonmetals, where metals typically lose electrons and become cations, while nonmetals gain electrons and become anions. This transfer of electrons leads to the formation of electrostatic attractions between the oppositely charged ions, resulting in a stable compound.