Chemistry

Learning physics and chemistry easily and freely - Science for elementary school, middle school and high school


Free online chemistry lesson for elementary school, middle school and high school.

 

Ions


Formation of ions


1) Formation of monatomic ions

Atoms consist of electrons moving around a nucleus. When some phenomena occur (chemical transformations, mechanical friction, exposure to radiations) the atom may lose one or more electrons.

An electron loss also corresponds to a loss of negative charges that leads to the formation of an electrically charged compound: it is an ion. The electrons lost by one atom can not subsist alone for very long time and are quickly captured by another atom that gains negative charges and also loses its electrical neutrality: this atom is therefore also transformed in ion.

An ion may therefore be formed from an atom that gains or loses one or more electrons.

Comments:
- Such ions that are formed from a single atom are called monatomic ions.
- The number of electrons around a nucleus may change but the nucleus is never changed and it keeps its initial number of positive charges.

2) Formation of a cation

A cation is a positive ion that is formed from an atom that loses some of its electrons.
Indeed, after a loss of electrons, the negative charges become less numerous than the positive charges.


Example: formation of the aluminum ion
The aluminum atom is composed of:
- 13 electrons which carry a total of 13 negative charges.
- 13 positive charges in its nucleus.
This atom can lose 3 electrons to become an aluminum ion which is then made of​​:
- 13 - 3 = 10 electrons which carry a total of 10 negative charges.
- 13 positive charges in its nucleus (the nucleus is not affected by the loss of electrons)
If we compare the positive and negative charges it can be seen that the aluminum ion has three positive charges in excess (13 positive charges and 10 negative charges).
This excess charge is denoted by a superscript (top right) in the formula of the aluminum ion
 : Al3+ .


The aluminum atom becomes an ion
Aluminium atom become an aluminium ion

Comment: The formula of an ion is always formed in a similar manner. We use the symbol of the atom from which the ion is formed and then we add in superscript the numbers and the sign of excess charges obtained by comparing the number of positive charges and the number of negative charges.

3) Formation of an anion

An anion is a negative ion that is formed from an atom that gains electrons.
Indeed, after a gain of electrons, the negative charges become more numerous than positive charges.

Example: formation of the chloride ion
The chlorine atom is composed of:
- 17 electrons which carry a total of 17 negative charges.
- 17 positive charges in its nucleus.
This atom can gain an electron to become a chloride ion which is then made of​​:
- 17 + 1 = 18 electrons which carry a total of 18 negative charges.
- 17 positive charges in its nucleus.
If we compare the positive and negative charges we see that the chloride ion has a negative excess charge (17 positive charges and 18 negative charges ).
The formula of chloride ion is: Cl- .


The chlorine atom become an ion
Formation of chloride ion


4) Some ion formulas

The formulas of some common ions

Sodium ion Copper ion Chloride ion Iron (II) ion Iron (III) ion
Na+ Cu2+ Cl- Fe2+ Fe3+

5) Polyatomic ions

Ions can also be formed from molecules whose atoms lose or gain one or more electrons. These ions are then called polyatomic ions.
Examples of polyatomic ions:

- The sulfate ion whose formula is SO42-
- The carbonate whose formula is CO32-





Science class

Mechanics lessons
Water

Water on Earth
Changes of state in the nature: the water cycle
Water in human body
Test for water
Properties of water in different states

States of matter

States of matter and its changes
Boiling water
Water: freezing and melting
Changes of state: mass and volume
Molecules in different states of matter

Mixtures and solutions

Heterogeneous mixtures
Homogeneous mixtures
Decantation
Centrifugation
Filtration
Vaporization of water
Distillation
Chromatography
Dissolving a solid in water
Conservation of mass on dissolving
Miscibility in water

Mass and volume

Volume and its units
Measuring volume with a graduated cylinder
Mass and its units
Measuring the mass of a liquid
Mass of a liter of water
Volumetric mass density

Air and atmosphere

Atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere protect us
Threats to the Earth's atmosphere
Composition of air
Air and life
Pressure

Atoms and molecules

Molecules
Molecules in mixtures and pure substances
Molecules and states of matter
Atoms
Composition of molecules
Constituents of the atoms
The electrical neutrality of the atom

Combustions

Basics of combustion
The combustion of carbon
The combustion of butane

Atoms and chemical reactions

Chemical reactions
Chemical equations
Law of conservation of mass
Chemical synthesis

Metals

Most common metals
How to distinguish metals ?

Corrosion of metals
Electrical conductivity of solid materials
Electrons and free electrons
Electric current in metals

Ions

The conductivity of aqueous solutions
Aqueous solutions and ions
The direction of movement of ions
Formation of ions
Tests for ions

Acidic and basic solutions

pH of aqueous solutions
Ions in acidic and basic solutions
Dilution of acids and bases
Composition of hydrochloric acid
Chemical reaction between iron and hydrochloric acid

Electrochemical cells and chemical energy

Chemical reaction beteween a copper sulphate solution and zinc
Copper sulfate and zinc battery
Basics of electrochemical cell


        










©2021 Physics and chemistry