What is an ion??????

Question

How do you know if it is positive or negative????

Answer 1

An ion is a charged atom that has lost or gained electrons.

If it has gained electorns so that it can have a full shell/ valence so that it becomes stable then it becomes negatively charged
if it looses electrons it is positively charged

for example

Nitrogen has a charge of negative 3 because it has to gain 3 electrons so that it becomes stable

Magnesium has a charge of positive 2 beacuse it has to loose 2 elctrons so that it becomes stable

Answer 2

An ion is a charged atom or molecule. It is charged because the number of electrons do not equal the number of protons in the atom or molecule. An atom can acquire a positive charge or a negative charge depending on whether the number of electrons in an atom is greater or less then the number of protons in the atom.

Negatively charged: more electrons than protons

Positively charged: more protons than electrons

Neutral: same number of protons and electrons

( hey even learned somthing myself there!! )

Answer 3

if it is a metal element it is positive ions but if it is a nonmetal then it is negative an ion is formed when a element give up or take the valency electrons of another element if it gives it is positive if takes it is negative ions are formed by ionic bonding and metallic bonding