Key Stage 4
Meaning
An Ion is a particle that has a different number of protons to electrons.
About Ions
- An atom contains the same number of protons as electrons. When an atom loses or gains electrons it becomes an ion.
- Ions can be positively charged or negatively charged.
- If an atom gains electrons it becomes a negatively charged ion since there are more electrons than protons and electrons carry a negative charge.
- If an atom loses electrons it becomes a positively charged ion since there are more protons than electrons and protons carry a positive charge.
Atom | Ion |
A Lithium atom has 3 protons and 3 electrons so it is neutral. | A Lithium ion has 3 protons and 2 electrons so it has a positive charge. It now has a full Outer Shell. |
A Fluorine atom has 9 protons and 9 electrons so it is neutral. | A Fluorine ion has 9 protons and 10 electrons so it is negative charge. It now has a full Outer Shell. |
- The number of electron in an ion can be found using the Atomic Number (which is the same as the Relative Atomic Charge of the nucleus) and subtracting the charge of the ion.
A Lithium Ion | A Fluorine Ion | A Boron Ion | An Oxygen Ion |
This ion has an Atomic Number (Z) of 3 and a Relative Atomic Charge (Q) of +1.
Number of electrons = A - Q Number of electrons = 3 - 1 Number of electrons = 2 |
This ion has an Atomic Number (Z) of 9 and a Relative Atomic Charge (Q) of -1.
Number of electrons = A - Q Number of electrons = 9 - (-1) Number of electrons = 10 |
This ion has an Atomic Number (Z) of 5 and a Relative Atomic Charge (Q) of +3.
Number of electrons = A - Q Number of electrons = 5 - 3 Number of electrons = 2 |
This ion has an Atomic Number (Z) of 8 and a Relative Atomic Charge (Q) of -2.
Number of electrons = A - Q Number of electrons = 8 - (-2) Number of electrons = 10 |
References
AQA
- Ions, page 112, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Ions, page 124, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Ions, page 50, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions, pages 121-2, 148, 339, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Ions, pages 16, 38-43, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions, pages 23, 29, 70-74, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Ions, pages 28-30, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Ions, pages 43, 44, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Ions, pages 6-7, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Ions, pages 96, 113-115, 197, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Ions; charge on, page 35, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Ions; charge on, pages 150-1, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Ions; electrolysis, pages 102, 104-105, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions; periodicity, pages 40-41, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions; pH scale, page 99, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions; tests, pages 186-191, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ions; transition elements, page 33, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Edexcel
- Ions, page 154, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Ions, page 53, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Ions, page 95, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Ions, pages 197, 359, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Ions, pages 20, 21, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ions, pages 48-55, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
- Ions, pages 49, 50, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ions, pages 83, 84, 172, 173, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ions; neutralisation, pages 208-209, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Ions; neutralisation, pages 64-65, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Ions; spectator ions, page 210, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Ions; spectator ions, page 66, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Ions; test for positive ions, pages 196-197, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Ions; tests for negative ions, pages 198-199, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
OCR
- Ions, pages 15, 18, 19, 35, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Ions, pages 173, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR
- Ions, pages 29, 56-57, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Ions, pages 86, 89-91, 108, 117, 196, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Ions; detection/identification, pages 148-151, 272-273, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Ions; electrolysis, pages 122-127, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Ions; formulae, page 88, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Ions; halogen displacement reactions, page 136, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Ions; transition metals, page 141, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR