Why is an atom electrically neutral?

an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons, as a cation (positive ion) which is created by electron loss and is attracted to the cathode in electrolysis, or as an anion (negative ion) which is created by an electron gain and is attracted to the anode. read more

By definition, an atom is electrically neutral (i.e. has the same number of protons as it does electrons, plus some number of neutrons depending on the isotope). If a species were charged, it is referred to as an ion (cation for positively charged and anion for negatively charged species), also by definition. read more

Therefore an atom is electrically neutral. If it has one kind of charged particles more than the other, then it becomes negatively or positively charged particle depending upon which charge leads, referred to as an "ion". read more