thumb|right|300px|Electron transfer from a neutral lithium (Li) atom on the left to a neutral [[fluorine (F) atom on the right would give Li and F ions.]]
AI overview
An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it an electrical charge. Ions are important because they enable many chemical reactions and are fundamental to how electricity works in batteries, living cells, and countless other processes.
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Article
18 sectionsContents
- History of discovery{{anchor|History of discovery}}
- Characteristics
- Anions and cations
- Natural occurrences
- Related technology
- Detection of ionizing radiation
- Chemistry
- Denoting the charged state
- Sub-classes
- Formation
- Formation of monatomic ions
- Formation of polyatomic ions
- Formation of ions in nonpolar liquids
- Ionization potential
- Ionic bonding
- Common ions
- See also
- References
thumb|right|300px|Electron transfer from a neutral lithium (Li) atom on the left to a neutral [[fluorine (F) atom on the right would give Li and F ions.]]
An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convention. The net charge of an ion is not zero because its total number of electrons is unequal to its total number of protons.