What is Ions: Definition and 343 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. G

    How Do You Calculate the Charge and Mass of Sodium and Chlorine Ions?

    Here is the question: A uniform electric field of magnitude 604 N/C exists between two parallel plates that are 3.66 cm apart. A proton is released from the positive plate at the same instant that an electron is released from the negative plate. Determine the distance from the positive plate...
  2. C

    Testing Iron Ions in Oxygen Absorbers

    how to test the component inside oxygen absorber in food?? we guess that there may be iron(II) or iron(III) ion. we use reducing agent or oxidzing agent to test it ? however, if both of them exist in the oxygen absorber, how can we distinguish them?? :confused:
  3. C

    Adding Back Spectator Ions When Balancing Equations

    Here is what I have: BrO_{3}^{-} + NH_{3}OH^{+} + H_{2}O --> Br^{-} + NO_{3}^{-} + 2H_{3}O^{+} I'm adding back spectator ions, K+ and Cl-. KBrO_{3} + NH_{3}OHCl + H_{2}O --> KBr + KNO_{3} + 2H_{3}O^{+} + HCl As you can see I have 1 K and 1 Cl on the left, but 2 K and 1 Cl on the right. And...
  4. B

    Chemistry Moles of ions in aqueous solution

    How many moles and numbers of ions of each type are present in the following aqueous solutions? 3.26 L of a solution containing 6.96 x 10^21 formula units of lithium nitrate per liter I got 1.16e-2 mols of Li and NO3 as well as 6.99e21 ions for each. The software I am using (webassign) says...
  5. Y

    What is the intention of atom to form ions?

    what is the intention of atom to form ions? how do we know when iron form iron2+ or iron3+ irons? do we need to remember the electrochemical series?
  6. T

    Write an equation for the reaction of Al2O3 with hydroxide ions.

    write an equation for the reaction of Al2O3 with hydroxide ions. Al2O3 + OH^-1 ----> ?
  7. R

    Help calculating charge of Cl- and K+ ions

    Sorry if this is a ridiculously simple problem, but I don't get it. The professor didn't give examples of how to do this and it's been years since I've taken science courses. I have to determine the electric force (Coulomb's Law) on the K+ ion due to the Cl- ion 9E-10m away. How do you...
  8. P

    Ions Table: Find the Perfect Resource for Your Chemistry Needs

    Anyone has a nice, neat and complete ions table? I haven't found one yet. ---- Edit: Sorry, I have just found one. But if someone has a good sugestion do not hesitate.
  9. C

    How Can You Determine If an Alkyloxonium Ion Will Lose Water Readily?

    I'm working on a number of problems that tells me to write the structure of the alkyloxonium ion produced after an alcohol is protonated by a strong acid it says that if the alkyloxonium ion is capable of losing water readily, write the structure of the resulting carbocation and if the...
  10. C

    Relative stability of iron ions

    In terms of electronic structure, Fe3+ is more stable than Fe2+ because it has a half filled d-orbital which gives extra stability. i.e. Fe3+ : [Ar]3d5 Fe2+ : [Ar]3d6 But the standard electrode potential of the following reaction is 0.77V, Fe3+(aq) + e- => Fe2+(aq) which means...
  11. C

    Explaining the Catalysis of SN2 Reactions by Iodide Ions

    The addition of sodium or potassium iodide catalyzes many SN2 reactions of alkyl chlorides or bromides. Explain. I think the reason why it catalyzes many SN2 reactions, has to do with the fact that it is the best leaving group of all the alkyl halides. But why else? Also, is the potassium...
  12. M

    Bovine Serum Albumin and Varous Ions

    I'm dying here! I've looked on pubmed, crc handbooks, bcem texts and google. I need to know how much of various ions Na, Cl, Ca, Mg etc. get bound to albumin in a Krebs solution at 37 celcius, pH 7.4, and 3mg/dL albumin. I managed to track down a number and do my own test for Ca but the...
  13. S

    Understanding the Relationship Between Ions and Dipoles: Debunking the Myth

    Can ions have dipoles? ive had a really long argument with a teacher who says ions can't have dipoles because ions are not compounds... can anyone clarify this for me please
  14. M

    Exploring Carbon Ions: Machines for Determining Their Composition

    what is your knowledge about carbon ions? is there a machine that determines its creature?
  15. G

    Adapting the Donnan Equation for 3 Diffusible Ions

    How do you adapt the Donnan Equation to 3 difffusible ions?
  16. I

    What Happens When Aluminum Reacts with Copper Chloride Dihydrate?

    We just did a lab in chemistry. My question is in regards to what chemically happened in the lab. this is what happened macroscopically: procedures: 1.) Copper Chloride Dihydrate is put into water. 2.) One aluminum ball (regular Al that u can get in stores) is put inside this mixuture (1)...
  17. S

    Can you explain the composition of carbonate?

    What are the monoatomic ions or elements( I am not sure anymore) that make up carbonate? Once this is answered I can ask my real question. -Scott
  18. Math Is Hard

    Polyatomic ions, -ate and -ite suffixes

    With the Polyatomic ions, how do you tell an "ate" from an "ite" when choosing the suffix? I didn't quite catch what the teacher was saying but there was something about the charge compared with the subscript, I think? :confused:
  19. H

    Potential Energy of Ions in a Molecular Structure

    okay here's the equation: In a certain molecular structure, the total energy E between two ions is given by E= (-5.6/r) + 10e^(-r/3) where r is the distance seperating the nuclei. now i already sketched the graph but i don't know how to find the domain of E, or...
  20. C

    How Many Moles of Ions Are in These Aqueous Solutions?

    How many moles of ions are present in aqueous solutions prepared by dissolving 10.00 g of the following compounds in water to make 4.35 L of solution? (a) cobalt(III) chloride (b) aluminum carbonate (c) potassium permanganate (d) strontium hydroxide I first converted the 10.00 g into...
  21. M

    Atoms & Ions Radius: Arranging in Order of Increasing Radius

    I am to arrange the following atoms or ions in order of increasing radius...then give an explanation for the position of S2- in relation to the atoms or ions that come before or after it. Here is what i have so far...in order of increasing radius. K+ K O S2- Cl Now I am not sure...
  22. H

    Separate Ag^+, Ca^2+, and Ni^2+ ions from a solution

    Hello everyone. I came here because I'm having trouble with a chemistry question an you guys seem to know what you're talking about =) I need to sepearate Ag^+, Ca^2+, and Ni^2+ ions from a solution. each of these is at a 0.1M concentration. I've never done this type of question...
  23. wasteofo2

    Why do H+ ions not react with the atoms/molecules they're originally bonded to?

    If you dissolve HCl in solution, the why do the H+ and the Cl- not react with one another? The H+ will react with any metal, will react with OH-, will react with your skin for sure, along with many other things, but why does it seem to just ignore a perfectly good negative ion that is in the...
  24. N

    Ions and Rusting: Examining the Role of Ions in the Oxidation of Metals

    how does ions affect rusting
  25. L

    How Do You Calculate the Mean Free Path of Cs+ Ions in a Mass Spectrometer?

    I was hoping somebody could help me out with this problem I'm stuck on: So in a mass spectrometer, an ionizing current of 2 pA causes ions of Cs+ to be produced. these ions have an energy of about 10 kev. I need to find the average distance (mean free path) between any two Cs+ ions at this...
  26. P

    How Can I Identify Spectator Ions in a Chemical Reaction?

    How do I know which ions in a reaction are spectator ions? If the reaction forms a precipitate, then I know that the ions that don't form the precipitate are the spectator ions. What do I do in something like the following: HCl + NaOH TiA
  27. G

    Calculating Moles of Chlorine Ions in Nickel Chloride (NiCl2)

    how do you work out the amount of mole Chlorine ions in 13.4g of nickel chloride(NiCl2). i don't know how to use the n=m/M with ions?
  28. J

    Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and ions

    Recently I had a discussion with friends about impact of H.U.P. on some biological functions. We had disagreement, about uncertainty of position of ion, say in neuron connected to another one by synapse, as a consequence of HUP, point was that if there is some uncertainty in position of ion or...
  29. A

    Influx of calcium ions in axon terminals question

    Hey guys I've a quick question. As an action potential propogates down an axon, as it reaches the end of an axon it causes calcium influx into the terminal end of the axon. This calcium helps the vesicles move towards the pre-synaptic membrane so that they can release neurotransmitters. My...
  30. C

    Charges of Ions in Periodic Table

    Hello all Is there any good way to memorize the charges of elements in the periodic table? Thanks?
  31. N

    Calculating Electric Field Ratios for H+ and K+ Ions

    The ratio of electric fields, E1/E2, at the surfaces of ions when H+ is the first ion (q=+1 and R=0.00001 Angstrom) and K+ is the second ion (Q=+1 and R=1.33 Angstrom) is: how would u solve this kind of problem? well i know that the ratio of E1/E2 is qR^2/Qr^2 so do i just plug in those...
  32. G

    The Mystery of H- & HII Ions: Why the Balance Matters

    what is the reason why the number of H- ions in a gas must always be less than the number of HII ions?
  33. T

    Net ionic equations with no ions

    Just a short question: Now the molecular equation between LiOH (aq) with HBr (aq) is (I presume): LiOH (aq) + HBr (aq) ----> LiBr (aq) + H(2)O (l) Now I'm confused about the net ionic, since there are no ions. Would it just be: OH(-) + H(+) ---> H(2)O?
  34. A

    Charging of Ions: Attraction or Process?

    Just a quick question i wonder some one could help me with, when ions charge do they attract the charge in some way or does the charge have to be some how taken to them throught a thrid party reaction or process, and does enviorment have any affect in the charging process thankyou
  35. J

    Exploring Free Electron Absorption in Air: Possibilities and Materials

    Hello, I am wondering if it is possible to absorb free electrons/ions in the air using a statically charged material, or even a magnetically charged material. I've heard that putting a large antenna up high will create a charge potential but what about ripping energy out of ambient air...
  36. C

    Internuclear separation between ions in a crystal-

    Okay, I'm hoping someone here can explain this homework qustion I've got bcause we don't seem to have anything in our notes that covers it, so any help would be great- thanks! Potassium fluoride (K+F-) is an ionic crytal having density 2.48x10^3 kg/m^3 Assuming that the diameters of the K+...
  37. C

    Explain the difference of hyodrogen ions

    The pH of a solution is determined by the value of -log[H] where [H] is the molar concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution The pH of water is 7, the pH of an acid is 3 and the pH of a strong base solution is 11. Explain the difference of hyodrogen ions in each of these solutions i...
  38. cepheid

    Understanding Acidity: A look at Hydronium Ions

    Hello, I'm new here. I haven't done anything more than first year university chemistry, and am not too familiar with the Lewis model for acids and bases. Therefore, please don't be too harsh on me for the elementary nature of this question: In grade school, we were taught that when a...
  39. B

    Understanding Polyatomic Ions in Lewis Structures

    Hi everybody, I am new to PF and thus far have found it very interesting and helpfull. I have a chemistry question, my test is tomorrow. I know how to draw lewis strutures in general. But i have a question concering polyatomic ions, from what i have learned you should treat each ion...
  40. Z

    Maximizing Air Ionization with Corona Discharge Emitters

    if i use corona based discharge emmiters in order to ionize air, can i accelerate that air in electric field, having the ion life factor unpredictable? i know the ionization potential of each molecule, as well as new energy, speed, and all variables, can i figure out stability time of ions?
  41. STAii

    Ionization Energy and Stable Ions

    Greetings ! I have a little question. My teacher was talking about stable ions some days ago, he wanted to explain why do we have certain stable ions in ionic compounds and we don't have other ions. For example, we notice that the stable ion of Na (in its compunds) is Na+1 and not Na+2 or...
  42. D

    Finding the Debye Length for Xenon Ions

    Greetings ! I searched the web and couldn't find it. I wan'na know the Debye length for Xenon ions. Thanks ! :smile: Live long and prosper.
  43. M

    Debunking the Claim of Negative Ions Improving Mood

    my mother recently bought a negative ion producing machine, claiming that negative ions have the ability to make her feel happier. is there any way i can scientifically debunk this claim? links would be good.
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