Page 80 - Chemistry eBook

Ion
ION: The charge an atom has when it gains or loses an electron
1. POSITIVE ION: An atom that has given away one or more electrons
A charge of+2 mean that the atom has given away 2 electrons.
An ‘Mg’ atom has 12 protons and 12 electrons. A Mg+2 ion has 12 protons and 10 electrons. This is because it gave away 2 electrons.
2. NEGATIVE ION: An atom that has gained one or more electrons
A charge of -3 means that the atom has taken in 3 electrons.
An atom is neutral. An ion is charged.
It’s a positive thing to be a giver. A positive ion means the atom gave away electrons.
It’s a negative
thing to be a taker/ thief. A negative ion means that the atom took/stole electrons for himself.
80 © UNIT 3: PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS