I know that electrons can be isolated through human intervention from their atoms. My question rather concerns if electrons are ever lost or gained naturally. I recognize that this is a stupid question but I couldn't find the answer on the Internet.
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2$\begingroup$ Transferring electrons between atoms is quite normal, but creating or destroying electrons outright is a different matter. That depends on what you count as natural. Does radioactive decay count? $\endgroup$– orthocresolCommented May 5, 2019 at 2:02
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1$\begingroup$ See electron capture, beta decay, and electron-positron pair production $\endgroup$– MaxWCommented May 5, 2019 at 2:38
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$\begingroup$ At high temperature everything loses electron and cannot stay in the bonded state. Check the term plasma. $\endgroup$– ACRCommented May 5, 2019 at 2:49
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$\begingroup$ Also x-ray fluorescence, and Auger effect $\endgroup$– MaxWCommented May 5, 2019 at 2:49
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$\begingroup$ And photoionization -- in the beginning, all was ionized...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoionization $\endgroup$– DrMoishe PippikCommented May 5, 2019 at 19:23
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My question rather concerns if electrons are ever lost or gained naturally.
Yes, they can!
Here are two examples of natural processes by which atoms can gain or lose electrons "naturally":
Electron Capture
In the natural radioactive decay process known as electron capture the nucleus captures an inner-shell electron, K- or sometimes L-shell. This results in a proton being converted to a neutron, and the emission of a neutrino. The atom has lost an electron, but conveniently a proton as well, so it remains neutral but with a deep vacancy.
Auger Process
If the vacancy is filled by a higher shell electron falling into it this can result in the emission of a photon, or in the emission of yet another electron. That emission is referred to as the Auger process.
See Electron capture; Reaction_details for examples.
