Ion

: This article is about the electrically charged particle. For other uses of this word, see ion (disambiguation).

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An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a net electric charge. A negatively charged ion, which has more electrons in its electron shell than it has protons in its nucleus, is known as an anion, for it is attracted to anodes, and a positively charged ion, which has fewer electrons than protons, is known as a cation (pronounced cat eye on), for it is attracted to cathodes. The process of converting into ions and the state of being ionized is called ionization. The recombining of ions and electrons to form neutral atoms is called recombination. Polyatomic anions which contain oxygen are sometimes known as oxyanion.

Related Topics:
Atom - Electron - Electron shell - Proton - Nucleus - Anode - Cathode - Polyatomic - Oxygen

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Atomic and polyatomic ions are denoted by a superscript with the sign of the net electric charge and the number of electrons lost or gained, if more than one. For example: H+, SO32-.

Related Topics:
H - S - O

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A collection of non-aqueous ions, or even a gas containing a proportion of charged particles, is called a plasma, which is called the fourth state of matter because its properties are quite different to solids, liquids, and gases.

Related Topics:
Plasma - Solid - Liquid - Gases

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