The Chemistry Book

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Ions are atoms that have acquired a net charge by the process of gaining or losing electrons.^[1] The charge of an ion is never dictated by the number of neutrons in an atom and is instead calculated by the overall charge of the atom because of the lack or gain of a negative one charge. ^[2] Certain ions can hold multiple levels of positive or negative charges. ^[3] An example of this would be a Manganese ion which can hold a positive two, three, four, or seven charge.^[4] Elements in the same "family" on the periodic table will most likely form ions that share common charges. For example sodium, lithium, potassium, rybidium, and cesium all form ions with a positive one charge^[5]

Cations

Cations are positively charged ions created by the loss of electrons.^[6]

Anions

Anions are negatively charged ions created by the gain of electrons.^[7]

Polyatomics

Polyatomic Ions are comprised of more than one atom it becoms a polyatomic ion. As the atoms start behaving as a unit, the individual polyatomics are held together by covalent bonds.^[8] For example a nitrate ion contains three covalent bonds. Polyatomic ions are ions that consist of more than one atom. For example, nitrate ion, NO3-, contains one nitrogen atom the three oxygen atoms. The atoms in the polyatomic ion are usually covalently bonded to one another, and therefore stay a single charged unit.^[9] A polyatomic ion is a charged species (ion) composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded that can be considered as acting as a single unit.

References