the charge on a proton is chosen as +1 (positively charged). the charge on an electron is opposite to the charge on the proton. the charge on the electron is -1 (negatively charged). an atom that is ionized makes two parts, one positive, and one negatively charged. for example, a neutral hydrogen atom has one proton and one electron. ionizing the atom breaks it into two parts: (1) a positively charged hydrogen ion, h+ (2) a negatively charged electron.