A charged particle that can either be positively or negatively charged is called?

A charged particle that can either be positively or negatively charged is referred to as an ion. This term encompasses both positive ions (cations), which are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons, and negative ions (anions), created when an atom gains one or more electrons.

In contrast, a proton is a specific type of positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom, while an electron is a negatively charged particle that orbits around the nucleus. A neutron, on the other hand, has no charge and is also located in the nucleus. Thus, unlike protons and electrons that carry a specific charge, ions serve as a broader category that includes both positively and negatively charged particles.