Capracus
27th October 2011 - 09:07 AM
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge.
Capracus
28th October 2011 - 04:19 AM
The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass ("go") between electrodes in a solution, when an electric field is applied. It is from Greek ιον, meaning "going".
Capracus
29th October 2011 - 05:46 AM
An ion consisting of a single atom is an atomic or monatomic ion; if it consists of two or more atoms, it is a molecular or polyatomic ion.
Capracus
31st October 2011 - 02:57 AM
An anion (−) (pronounced /ˈæn.aɪ.ən/ an-eye-ən), from the Greek word ἄνω (ánō), meaning "up", is an ion with more electrons than protons, giving it a net negative charge (since electrons are negatively charged and protons are positively charged).
Capracus
31st October 2011 - 12:36 PM
Conversely, a cation (+) (pronounced /ˈkæt.aɪ.ən/ kat-eye-ən), from the Greek word κατά (katá), meaning "down", is an ion with fewer electrons than protons, giving it a positive charge.
Capracus
1st November 2011 - 02:45 AM
Since the charge on a proton is equal in magnitude to the charge on an electron, the net charge on an ion is equal to the number of protons in the ion minus the number of electrons.
Capracus
2nd November 2011 - 03:39 AM
Etymologically the word ion is the Greek ιον (going), the present participle of ιεναι, ienai, "to go".
Capracus
3rd November 2011 - 07:08 AM
This term was introduced by English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday in 1834 for the (then unknown) species that goes from one electrode to the other through an aqueous medium.