Ion

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.