Final answer:
False, the definition of an ion is related to changes in electron numbers, not neutrons. Ions are charged particles formed from atoms that have lost or gained electrons, leading to a positive (cation) or negative (anion) charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of an ion is false when it is described as a change in the number of neutrons from an atom's original neutral state. An ion is not defined by changes in neutron numbers but rather by the gain or loss of electrons. In a neutral state, atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons, balancing the electrical charge. When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, or cation, and when an atom gains electrons, it forms a negatively charged ion, or anion. The process by which atoms become ions is known as ionization. Ions are significant in chemical reactions due to their electrical charges, which enable them to interact with other charged particles.