what is an ion?

Question

can someone please explain to me what is an ion and how does it become an ion

Answer 1

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that bears an electric charge. Positively charged ions are called cations, and negatively charged ions are called anions. When a single atom gains or loses an electron, monoatomic ions are formed. For example, reaction of the element sodium (Na) with the element chlorine (Cl) leads to the transfer of electrons from Na to Cl to form Na+ cations and Cl− anions. In general, atoms of metallic elements (on the left side of the periodic table) lose electrons to form cations, while atoms of nonmetallic atoms (on the right side of the periodic table) gain electrons to form anions. Ions can bear multiple charges, as in the magnesium ion (Mg2+) or the nitride ion (N3−). The charge on monoatomic ions is usually the same for elements in the same column of the periodic table; for example, hydrogen (H), sodium, lithium (Li), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs) all form +1 ions. See also Periodic table.

Ions can also comprise more than one atom and are then called polyatomic ions. For example, the ammonium ion (NH4+) carries a positive charge and is composed of one nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms. The nitrate ion (NO3−) is composed of one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms and carries a single negative charge. Polyatomic ions are usually depicted inside brackets with superscripted charges, as shown in the structure below.

Anions and cations can combine to form solid materials called salts, which are named by the cation name followed by the anion name. For a salt composed of the polyatomic ions ammonium and nitrate, the formula is NH4NO3 and the name is ammonium nitrate. For monoatomic ions, the cation name is the same as the element and the anion name is the element name with the ending -ide. Thus, common table salt, NaCl, is called sodium chloride. The ratio of anions to cations must always be such that an electrically neutral material is produced. Thus, magnesium nitrate must contain one magnesium for every two nitrates, giving the formula Mg(NO3)2

Answer 2

An ion is a particle that either gained or lost an electron. An atom of a particular ion will be in its neutral state.

Answer 3

To my understanding, if I remember from school, an ion is an atom that has either lost or gained an electron. Normally, the number of electrons should be the same as the number of protons. Protons are positive, electrons are negative, so if the atom has one extra electron, then it is a negatively-charged ion called an "anion". If it has one less electron, then it is a positively-charged ion called a "cation".
As for the way ions are actually formed, however, I'm not entirely sure.

Answer 4

an ion is a charged atom . it becomes an ion by giving or receiving electrons. they do this to become stable

Answer 5

An ion is an atom which has a charge (ex.: Cl- , Ca2+)

This happens in aqueous solutions, when an element or a compound is dissolved in water. For example, the compound NaCl will break down in water to form Na+ ions and Cl- ions. Gases, liquids, and solids do not have a charge.

Answer 6

An ion is a charged atom or molecule. Read more at : http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/Propulsion/1-what-is-an-ion.html

Answer 7

An ion is an atom or group of atoms which have lost or gained one or more electrons, making them negatively or positively charged.

Answer 8

An atom (or group of atoms bound together) with a net electric charge, which is due to the loss or gain of electrons

Answer 9

an ion is a particle that has gained or lost one or more electrons to gain a stable electronic configuration (noble gas configuration) during a chemical reaction.

Answer 10

An ion is what results when a neutral atom has gained or lost one or more electrons.