Ions
Ions
Ions (/aɪˈɒn, ˈaɪɒn/) are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more of their valence electrons, giving them a net positive or negative electrical charge.
Etymology
The term "ion" comes from the Greek word ἰόν, ion, "going," the present participle of ἰέναι, ienai, "to go." This term was introduced by English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday in 1834 for the then-unknown species that goes from one electrode to the other through an aqueous medium.
Types of Ions
Ions can be categorized into two main types:
- Cations (/ˈkætaɪən/): These are positively charged ions that are formed when an atom loses electrons.
- Anions (/ˈænaɪən/): These are negatively charged ions formed when an atom gains electrons.
Related Terms
- Ionization: The process by which an atom or a molecule acquires a negative or positive charge by gaining or losing electrons to form ions.
- Electrolyte: A substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. Electrolytes are commonly found in fruit juices, sports drinks, and sweat.
- Isotope: Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number, and consequently in nucleon number.
- Valence Electron: An outer shell electron that is associated with an atom, and that can participate in the formation of a chemical bond if the outer shell is not closed.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ions
- Wikipedia's article - Ions
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