Charge of an Ion - What Does "+1" Mean?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FredericChopin
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charge Ion
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 3K views
FredericChopin
Messages
101
Reaction score
0
The charge of a single proton is the elementary charge of 1.6 * 10^-19 C, and the charge of an electron is the negative of the elementary charge, which is -1.6 * 10^-19 C.

In an electroneutral atom or molecule, there are just as many protons as there are electrons, and so the net charge is 0 C.

But an ion either loses or gains electrons. For example, an ion with a +1 charge has lost one electron.

But does this "+1" charge mean that the ion has a charge of 1.6 * 10^-19 C, as there is one more proton than electron?

Thank you.
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org