GCSE Combined Science (AQA)

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Ions

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Atomic structure and the periodic table The periodic table

Ions

7:03 Properties of Metals and Non-metals
Spec 4.1.2.3 4.1.1.5
Previous Metals vs Non Metals Next Group 0: Noble Gases
  • An ion is an atom or molecule with a positive or negative charge.
  • Examples of ions include sodium ion, copper ion, and chloride ion.
  • Ions can also be compounds, such as hydroxide ion and sulfate ion.
  • Ions are represented using chemical symbols with plus and minus signs.
  • Ions are formed when atoms lose or gain electrons.
  • Losing electrons makes an atom positively charged; gaining electrons makes it negatively charged.
  • A sodium atom loses an electron to become a positively charged sodium ion (Na+).
  • A chlorine atom gains an electron to become a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-).
  • The charge of an ion indicates how many electrons have been gained or lost.
  • A sodium ion with a plus one charge has lost one electron.
  • A chloride ion with a minus one charge has gained one electron.
  • A sulfate ion with a two minus charge has gained two electrons.
  • An ion has the same number of protons and neutrons as its atom but a different number of electrons.
  • The periodic table can be used to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom and its ion.
  • Positive ions have fewer electrons than protons; negative ions have more electrons than protons.
  • Metals form positive ions by losing electrons and are found on the left side of the periodic table.
  • Non-metals usually form negative ions by gaining electrons and are found on the right side of the periodic table.

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