What is an ion?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a definition or explanation of the term 'ion', which is a fundamental concept in chemistry related to charged particles.
Answer
An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative electrical charge.
An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge due to an unequal number of protons and electrons.
Answer for screen readers
An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge due to an unequal number of protons and electrons.
More Information
Ions are crucial in chemical reactions and are commonly found in nature. Examples include common table salt (NaCl), where sodium (Na) forms a cation and chlorine (Cl) forms an anion.
Tips
Confusing ions with neutral atoms. Recognize that ions have an imbalance in the number of electrons and protons.
Sources
- Ion | Definition, Chemistry, Examples, & Facts | Britannica - britannica.com
- Ion - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- What is an ion? - qrg.northwestern.edu
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
