What are Ions?

[Verruckter]

I've asked my freinds and teachers many times, but they din't quite answer me. I know ions are electromagnetically charged (i think) and can be positive or negative.

[CypherToorima]

I THINK that an Ion is an element with/without an extra electron.

[Verruckter]

Yeah. I read somewhere that an Ion... lets say of an hydrogen atom is an hydrogen atom with 1 more or 1 less electron, but the same number of neutrons and protons... i really aint sure about this.

[CypherToorima]

that's it

[Afrobean]

Almost everything we do in my Chemistry class is realted to ions. The sorry thing being that I don't know what they really are. Here's a definition strait from my book:

an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons
So basically, CypherToorima was pretty close but not quite exactly right.

[Verruckter]

Oh. But it has something to do with cathodes and anodes.. even if i don't know what theyt exactly are.

[Afrobean]

Oh. But it has something to do with cathodes and anodes.. even if i don't know what theyt exactly are.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I guess my class isn't that extensive.

[Verruckter]

lol...actully, i don't know what im talking about either. I just read that somewhere.

[DracIV]

Cathodes and annodes are the two parts of a vacuum tube. That would be in ancient history class :). When the cathode is heated the extra energy causes the electrons to jump the vaccum to the annode. Pretty simple.

Ions are atoms that either have more electrons or fewer electrons than they normally have. Ions have different reactions with other materials and are related to most of Chemistry.

[The_Q]

Ok...it's simple. Protons have posative charge. Electrons have a negative charge. Neutrons are...well, neutral. When an atom has an equal amount of electron and protons, the charges cancel each other. If an atom loses or gains an electron, the charge of the atom rises or lowers. If the atom loses an electron, the charge is posative. If it gains one, the charge is negative. Get it?

Q, the super genius 14 year old guy

[Verruckter]

I know that. I'm not totally ignorant in physics.

[RuhielRaptor]

Ions are atoms that either have more electrons or fewer electrons than they normally have.

Bingo.

If you take chemistry, before you start making reactions happen you need to know this to understand when certain chemichals will react with others. But then there's the little matter about atoms who normally will have multiple possible charges. For instance, iron has two possible forms of +2 and +4 charges so if you wanted FeO(iron oxide) you'd use iron atoms with +2 charge so that they'd cancel out oxygen's -2 charge. Or you could make FeO2 with the +4 charged iron.

If you ever get a chance to take chemistry, go for it, it's fun if you get a good teacher.

[Afrobean]

Ions are atoms that either have more electrons or fewer electrons than they normally have.
Like I said above, that's not exactly right. An ion can be either an atom or a molecule.

Also, my chemistry class is not fun. The teacher makes us take notes, and then expects us to have mastered how to do something brand new with no real experience. So, I recommend that you not take a chemistry class.

[GuidoHunter]

Augh, chemistry rules so much...

Well, y'all got the ion question right. Ion = atom or molecule plus or minus an electron or electrons.

But as for the cathode/anode thing, though, they aren't limited just to vacuum tubes. They're any two points over which there is a potential difference. Battery terminals are cathodes and anodes (cathode is black, anode red), as are two metals with different electronegativities next to each other. Just wanted to say that, and post in a thread about chemistry since I love it so much.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com