What is Ion: Definition and 404 Discussions

An ion () is a particle, atom or molecule with a net electrical charge.
The charge of the electron is considered negative by convention. The negative charge of an ion is equal and opposite to charged proton(s) considered positive by convention. The net charge of an ion is non-zero due to its total number of electrons being unequal to its total number of protons.
A cation is a positively charged ion with fewer electrons than protons while an anion is negatively charged with more electrons than protons. Because of their opposite electric charges, cations and anions attract each other and readily form ionic compounds.
Ions consisting of only a single atom are termed atomic or monatomic ions, while two or more atoms form molecular ions or polyatomic ions. In the case of physical ionization in a fluid (gas or liquid), "ion pairs" are created by spontaneous molecule collisions, where each generated pair consists of a free electron and a positive ion. Ions are also created by chemical interactions, such as the dissolution of a salt in liquids, or by other means, such as passing a direct current through a conducting solution, dissolving an anode via ionization.

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  1. C

    What happens when ion pairs recombine?

    As far as I know: When an source of ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles, Americium-241 for example, is present in a gas it results in the ionization (stripping of electrons from atomic nuclei) of the gas to form ion pairs. When these ion pairs recombine (radiative recombination) into...
  2. L

    How does tourmaline produce negative ion ?

    How does tourmaline produce negative ions ? Where those negative ions come from ? I know that negative ions is simply atoms with 1 extra electron so where they come from ? I also know that volcanic ash also produce negative ion same question ?
  3. A

    Ion Exchange Between Salts in a Solution

    If you have two alkaline Earth metal-halide salts in a solution (for example potassium iodide and sodium chloride), when you boil off the water will you find that new salts (In this case potassium chloride and sodium iodide) have formed? Will the most electronegative and least electronegative...
  4. P

    Electrostatic Force between the sodium ion and the chloride ion.

    In solid sodium chloride (table salt), chloride ions have one more electron than they have protons, and sodium ions have one more proton than they have electrons. These ions are separated at about 0.28 nm. Calculate the electrostatic force between the sodium ion and the chloride ion. What I...
  5. T

    Naming Oxoanions/Oxoacids, which ion to base off of?

    For example: If they gave you KClO and asked you to name it... The answer is Potassium Hypochlorite, because you base it off of the loss of two oxygen atoms from the most common chlorine ion (ClO3). My question is, why can't I base it off of Clorite (ClO2), so that the name of KClO would then...
  6. C

    Electron interactions in a Helium ion

    Homework Statement The question was, you have a Helium ion with one electron in its ground state. Then a second electron is added to the n = 10 level. What effect does the second electron have the first electron that is nearest the nucleus? Is the energy increased or decreased? Homework...
  7. T

    Electric / magnetic fields in a quadrupole ion optics

    Hi! I am a chemist (MSc) working in the field of analytical chemistry. I am using mass spectrometers for years now and I almost have no knowledge about the physical basics. I have read a book about different ion optics, but it was still not deep enough. Could you give me some advice where...
  8. S

    What is the blue Zinc ion in my patient's stomach?

    I was giving today zinc -tablet to a patient directly to her stomach because she cannot move. The tube which I first used was not clean so it contained some medicine of the last use. The tube turned light blue like copper ion -blue after I inserted the zinc water to the tube. I have not...
  9. F

    In Atmosphere Ion Drive(Assess Viability For Spacecraft)

    For starters, watch this video to see what I'm talking about. It has been done, so I know it can work, but I want to assess viability for maneuvering while in the thermo-sphere (space shuttle/ISS orbit) You can skip to 2:20...
  10. P

    What is Ion Bernstein Wave Heating?

    Hi Everyone! I am working in a plasma propulsion lab this summer, and am trying to get a better understanding of IBW heating. Very few papers on the academic databases actually describe what an IBW is, and how it heats, so I was hoping to open up a discussion about the topic. Here's what I...
  11. marcus

    First orbit of an asteroid this month (around Vesta, with ion drive)

    Dawn spacecraft is nearing Vesta and is planned to go into orbit 16 July. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/06jul_vestamoon/ The craft will orbit Vesta for several months and then move on to another asteroid, Ceres. The NASA press release mentions that several...
  12. Y

    Electrostatic force between sodium ion and a chloride ion

    Homework Statement In solid sodium chloride (table salt), chloride ions have one more electron than they have protons, and sodium ions have one more proton than they have electrons. These ions are separated by about 0.28 nm. Calculate the electrostatic force between a sodium ion and a chloride...
  13. A

    Whats wrong with my ionocraft (HV ion lifter)?

    this is my ionocraft. sides of the triangluar frame are of 10 cm each. the frame is made of broomsticks because we don't get balsa wood here. I am using 45 gauge Cu wire (ripped off from a quartz clock's circuit). total weight is 2-3 gms. (i hv weighed it). air gap is about 3.5 cm. im using...
  14. I

    Create an Ion Thruster: 10th Grade Engineering Project

    Hello Physics Forums, I am a tenth grade student looking into a possible engineering/science project. I wanted to know if an ion thruster could be built, how hard would it be if at all possible. I could work with the university of Arizona and they might lend me a lab and equipment. (such as...
  15. Q

    Common ion effect and temperature

    I have been researching extensively, but am unable to find if the extent of the common ion effect is influenced by the concentration of the common ion already in the solution? For example, if there are two solutions of weak acid which have dissociated to a different extent, would the addition of...
  16. N

    The potential difference necessary to accelerate an He+ ion ?

    The potential difference necessary to accelerate an He+ ion...? Homework Statement "What potential difference is needed to accelerate a He+ ion (charge +e, mass 4u) from rest to a speed of 1.2×10^6 m/s?" Homework Equations K_f + q*V_f = K_i + q*V_iThe Attempt at a Solution I figure that...
  17. H

    Ion exchange chromatography experiment involving transitional metals

    I did an experiment in which I used an anion exchange resin to separate nickel from cobalt but I don't understand the theory behind it. What I know is that the ion exchange resin uses quaternary ammonium groups as its cations but that's about it. First we packed a column with the resin then...
  18. P

    Finding ion concentration after determining whether precipitates will form

    Homework Statement A. Show by calculation whether a precipitate will form when 50.0ml of 0.010M AgNO3 is added to 50ml of 0.0010M Na2CO3. B. What is the carbonate ion concentration after equilibrium is established in the previous question? Homework Equations What I'm working with is: Ksp of...
  19. X

    Magnesium ion entering a mass spectrometer. find r

    Homework Statement A magnesium ion (Mg 2+) traveling at 60000 m/s enters a mass spectrometer with a magnetic field intensity of 800T. Calculate the radius of deflection forthe magnesium ion. 800T = |B| 24.31g/mol = m 60000 m/s = v 1.66* 10^-27= Atomic mass unit r=? Homework Equations r=...
  20. S

    Electric potential of hydrogen molecular ion

    Homework Statement The hydrogen molecular ion , with one electron and two protons, is the simplest molecule. The equilibrium spacing between the protons is 0.11nm . Suppose the electron is at the midpoint between the protons and moving at 1.5 m/s perpendicular to a line between the protons...
  21. M

    Calculating Chloride Ion Molar Concentration

    Homework Statement What is the molar concentration of chloride ions in a solution prepared by mixing 100 ml of 2.0 M KCl with 50 ml of a 1.5 M CaCl2 solution...? I don't know where to start... Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  22. R

    Buffer adding common ion effect?

    Homework Statement What will be the pH of a solution that contains 0.100 M CH3COOH and 0.100 M NaCH3COO?Ka = 1.8x10-5 IMPORTANT: THE REACTION IS NOT BETWEEN CH3COOH AND CH3COO- - My question here is why the ice table was setup as so by the instructor? see below... Homework...
  23. T

    Molarity of Copper Ion solution produced from Copper, Nitric Acid, and Water

    Homework Statement (c) A 0.1036 g sample of copper metal is dissolved in 48 mL of concentrated HNO3 to form Cu2+ ions and then water is added to make a total volume of 208.1 mL. (Calculate the molarity of Cu2+.) Homework Equations Molarity = Moles/Liter The Attempt at a Solution...
  24. G

    Calculating Velocity from Vector Addition of Ion Positions

    Homework Statement An ion's position vector is initially r> = (5.0m)i - (6.0m)j = (2.0m)k and 10 s later it is r> = (-2.0m)i +(8.0m)j - (2.0m)k. In unit-vector notation, what is its during the 10 s? The answer is supposed to be r> = (-0.7m/s)i + (1.4m/s)j - (0.4m/s)k (from back of my book) but...
  25. K

    Question about the Ion Thruster

    Exactly how does the ion thruster rely on the laser in it's process exactly. I have been told that the ion thruster uses a laser but I wasn't given anymore information on what it exactly does.
  26. P

    Charging a lithium ion battery pack with a thermoelectic generator

    So I was wondering if I could get some help and advice on a project I am working on. I have next to no experience or knowledge of electrical circuits so I appreciate your patience. I am trying to power a structural health monitoring system "accelerometer" unit on a bridge using...
  27. J

    What Can Whole-Cell Patch Clamp Electrophysiology Record?

    Whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology can be used to record: a. the activity of the ion channels that are present in the patch of membrane. b. the activity of multiple neurons at a given time. c. voltage and/or current across the membrane of a cell. d. multi-unit activity...
  28. J

    Common ion effect - calculations.

    Homework Statement When 50.0 mL of a 2.0 × 10-4 M Ag2CrO4 solution was added to 50.0 mL of a Na2CrO4 solution a ppt formed (Ag2Cro4). What was the initial concentration of this Na2CrO4 solution? Ksp Ag2CrO4 = 1.1 × 10-12Homework Equations Given A2 (aq) + B(aq) -> AB(s) Ksp = [A]n[B] The...
  29. L

    Why Does the Water Ion Product Constant Exist?

    Water ion product constant? Conceptually, why does this constant exist so that the products of hydronium and hydroxide ions are always in a constant ration? Why does this not fluctuate?
  30. J

    Trapped Ion Computing Question

    Hi all, I have a question about trapped ion. How can they achieve such stable frequencies if the power supply which supply's the ion trap drifts over time? For example if you use a paul trap as an atomic clock, how do you compensate for any fluctuations in power supply voltage and frequency?
  31. O

    Calculating Electrostatic Energy of Trivalent Ion Binding to Membrane

    Homework Statement Consider a phospholipid bilayer membrane consisting of a mixture of 90% uncharged lipid and 10% singly charged acid lipid. Assume 68 Å^2 surface area per lipid head group, and assume further that the charged lipids are uniformly distributed and immobile. The membrance is...
  32. P

    Ion implantation on a target

    This question might sound very simple, but I couldn't find a relevant answer by googling; Assume Fe3+ is to be implanted in some target, how to get the 3+ ions to be implanted and not the 2+ or 1+ ? Thanks for your contributions.
  33. P

    Ion Thruster Question from Year 12

    Homework Statement An ion thruster may be used to change the speed of a satellite, through the emmisions of charged particles. Positive xenons ions are accelerated by the potential difference(deltaV) in the region between grid A and grid B as they move towards the right of the diagram...
  34. S

    How Do Atom and Ion Sizes Compare in Various Elements?

    Homework Statement Order each of the following sets of five atoms and ions according to decreasing size. (i.e. "1" largest and "5" smallest) N, Br-, Cs, P, Mg2+ Homework Equations When an atom loses electrons (becomes more +), its size decreases. Conversely, when an atom gains...
  35. P

    Ion Distribution in Grounded Metal Bowl: NaCl in Water

    Homework Statement Imagine water in a metal bowl that is open to air. This metal bowl is grounded. You add some NaCl to the water. What would the distributions of the ions look like in the water. Homework Equations I think this doesn't need equations, but just general understanding...
  36. L

    Gradient (Electrochemical, proton, ion, etc)

    I just started learning about cellular respiration and I'm not clear as to what the word "gradient" means. I see it tied to many terms such as electrochemical gradient, proton gradient and ion gradient. Is a gradient just a space or "field" with varying concentrations of something (protons...
  37. S

    How is negative ion acceleration possible?

    I was wondering at the remarkable fact that when an atom has an extra electron it is then possible to apply forces to it to accelerate it. What I find remarkable is the fact that even a heavy ion like mercury where the nucleus is many orders of magnitude more massive than the one electron that...
  38. K

    Exploring the Feasibility of an Ion Bomb: Fact or Fiction?

    I design weapons for fun and have just heard of an ion bomb. First off is It even possible to use ions to make a destructive device?
  39. Z

    Can the Negative Ion of Oxygen be an Oxidizer?

    This is just a little question to satisfy my own curiosity, but can the Negative Ion of an Oxygen atom/molecule be used as an oxidizer? I would think not, because it wouldn't be able to accept another electron if it already has one. Am I right?
  40. FeDeX_LaTeX

    Calculating Ion Charge (given Electron Configuration)

    Hello; My physics teacher told me that there was a way to calculate the ionic charge of a transition metal given its electronic configuration, but he did not tell me how, because it is 'too complicated'. I can't find any useful webpages on the subject, either... my teacher said that the...
  41. P

    Solvated ion in water solution with surface effects

    (Note: I am posting this in the classical physics section because it has a connection with Thermodynamics, also this is NOT a homework question, I am just trying to get a handle on what is going on) I was looking through some old questions I had written down and decided I would ask to see if...
  42. T

    Solving for Ion Mass in Magnetic Field

    Homework Statement An ion of charge 1.6 x 10^(-19) C and Kinetic energy 2.0k eV enters perpendicularly into a uniform magnetic field .The ion performs a circular path of radius 4.3 cm .Determine the mass of the ion if the magnetic field intensity is 0.5 T. Homework Equations The...
  43. B

    Need help with replacing a lead-acid sealed battery with a Lithium Ion battery

    What I am trying to do is replace my 12v 5Ah lead-acid battery with a 14.8v 6600mAh lithium ion battery. It powers a small fan belt. And for some reason I can't get the lithium battery to work. Can somebody tell me what I might be doing wrong, or if it will even work?
  44. K

    Need Help Understanding K_a & K_b for Bicarbonate Ion

    Homework Statement Hi everyone, I need help understanding something. My assignment is talking about the dissociation of CaCl2 and NaHC03- in water and heats of solution etc and says: "Write out the K_a and K_b for the bicarbonate ion with chemical equations". Problem is though that I don't...
  45. L

    Quadrupole ion trap vs. Penning trap

    Hello. I have been reading up on quadrupole ion traps used in many mass spectrometers (I was trying to learn about mass spectrometry in relation to biological samples), and heard wind of "Penning traps" which also use electric quadrupoles for trapping, usually spoken of in conjunction with...
  46. FeDeX_LaTeX

    Positive Hydrogen Ion = Proton?

    Hello; Is this statement true? A hydrogen positive ion would have no electrons, and pure hydrogen itself has no neutrons. Therefore, would it simply be a proton? Thanks.
  47. H

    How Much Metallic Ion Can Remain at Equilibrium in Fe(OH)3 Solution?

    Calculate the milligrams of metallic ion that can remain at equilibrium in a solution of Fe(OH)3 having a [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-4 mol/L and Ksp = 6.0 x 10-38.
  48. FeDeX_LaTeX

    Ionic Formula for Carbon-12 Ion: C4+ or C4-?

    Hello; What is the ionic formula for a carbon-12 ion? It has 4 electrons in its 2nd shell with a capacity of 4, so does that make it C4+ or C4-? I think that it is C4+, because in order for it to bond with the oxygen molecule, O2, it must be positive, as the oxygen ion is negative... is this...
  49. L

    What will MgCl2 ion pair + distilled water form and why?

    Hi! If I dissolve MgCl2 in distilled water, will it form into [Mg++] + [Cl-] + [-Cl] ? or [Mg++] + [Cl2--]? -And Why? is it because of stability constants? -Also Are there any intermediate steps in the process? Similarly, If I dissolve MgSO4 in distilled water, without electric currents or...
  50. R

    Difference between hole and +ve ion?

    Can anybody tell me what actually is difference between between electron hole and positive ion.
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