When an atom loses protons, it results in a change in its atomic number, which defines the element. The number of protons determines the element's identity, while the number of electrons determines its charge. So, if an atom loses protons, it becomes an atom of a different element altogether.
In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero. When an atom loses a proton, the number of protons becomes less than the number of electrons, creating an imbalance between the positive and negative charges. This results in a net positive charge for the atom.
For example, if a neutral helium atom (with two protons and two electrons) were to lose a proton, it would become a hydrogen atom (with one proton and one electron). In this case, the resulting hydrogen atom would have a net positive charge.
It's important to note that the loss of protons from an atom is not a common process in typical radioactive decay. Radioactive decay typically involves the emission of alpha particles (which are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons) or other particles. In such cases, the resulting atoms have different atomic numbers and, therefore, different elements.
In summary, losing protons changes the identity of the atom, and the resulting atom may have a net positive charge if the number of protons becomes less than the number of electrons.