2006-06-13 07:46:55 · 15 answers · asked by canon 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
An ion is an electrically charged particle. It can be a single atom or a group of them. This happens with a loss or gain of electrons. Read more about it at the source below.
2006-06-13 07:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by Niki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is a positively or negatively charged atom. Atoms are made up of a nucleus of protons, which have a positive charge, surrounded by a cloud of electrons, which have a negative charge. An uncharged, electrically neutral atom, has the same number of protons as electrons. But sometimes an electron gets "knocked off." Then the atom has more protons than electrons and is positively charged. Or, sometimes an atom will pick up an extra electron. Then it has more electrons than protons and is negatively charged. When either of these things happens, we say that the atom is "ionized."
Some kinds of atoms can be easily ionized. That's how a battery works. A battery has two kinds of metals, one with atoms that are positively charged (too few electrons), and one that is negatively charged (too many electrons). When they're connected together by a wire, the extra electrons cross over to the side with too-few electrons, making an electric current.
2006-06-13 14:55:07 · answer #2 · answered by ELuhnAbroad 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is a atomic particle carrying a non-zero net charge. An anion has a negative net charge and a cation has a positive net charge. An ion can be created when an electron is stripped from or added to an otherwise neutral particle.
2006-06-13 14:52:50 · answer #3 · answered by Aaron S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is an atomic or sub-atomic partical that has a positive or negative charge. Most commonly talk about ions are in reference to single atoms that either have excess electrons (anions) resulting in a negative charge or have fewer electrons than protons (cations) resulting in a positive charge.
2006-06-13 14:54:37 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is a molecule with a net positive or negative charge. Ions can be a single atom, but they are NOT sub-atomic particles.
2006-06-13 14:52:00 · answer #5 · answered by Paul H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is an atom that has either gained or lost an electron and therefore has either a positive or negative charge.
2006-06-13 14:52:09 · answer #6 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is a electron or a proton whos charge is gone.
2006-06-13 14:48:39 · answer #7 · answered by isaac a 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an ion is an atom that has either lost an electron or electrons and now has more protons than electrons. it carries a positive charge and is called a cation. if an atom gains an electron or electrons it now has more electrons that protons. this causes negative charges and it is called an anion.
2006-06-13 14:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by Paul M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is an atom, group of atoms, or subatomic particle with a net electric charge to be more accurate but who wants accuracy?
2006-06-13 14:48:09 · answer #9 · answered by sunkistOJ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ion is basically an atom that carries a + or - charge (has an irregular amt. of electrons)
2006-06-13 14:49:08 · answer #10 · answered by anonymous 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋