Owing to certain reasons, atoms and molecules can either get, or lose the electrons. In this case the ion is formed. Thus, the ion is a one-atomic or polyatomic charged particle. Obviously, its charge will be the most important characteristic of an ion.
It is required to you
- Table of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleyev
Instruction
1. Atom of any substance consists of an electron shell and a kernel. The kernel consists of two types of particles - neutrons and protons. Neutrons have no electric charge, that is electric charge of neutrons is equal to zero. Protons are positively charged particles and have the electric charge equal +1. The quantity of protons characterizes atomic number of this atom.
2. The electron shell of atom consists of electronic orbitals on which the different quantity of electrons is located. An electron - a negatively charged elementary particle. Its electric charge is equal to-1. By means of communications, atoms can also connect in molecules.
3. The quantity of protons is equal in neutral atom to quantity of electrons. Therefore its charge is equal to zero. To define an ion charge, it is necessary to know its structure, namely quantity of protons in a kernel and quantity of electrons on electronic orbitals.
4. The total charge of an ion turns out as a result of algebraic summation of charges of the protons and electrons entering it. The number of electrons in an ion can exceed number of protons, and then the ion will be negative. If the number of electrons are less than number of protons, then the ion will be positive.
5. Knowing chemical element, we can determine its atomic number which is equal to quantity of protons in an atomic nucleus of this element by Mendeleyev's table (for example 11 at sodium). If one of electrons left sodium atom, then atom of sodium will have not 11, but 10 electrons any more. Atom of sodium will become a positively charged ion with Z charge = 11+(-10) = +1. Such ion by a Na symbol with plus from above, in case of a charge +2 - two pluses will be designated and. etc. Respectively for a negative ion the sign "minus" is used.