What is an ion?

An ion is defined as a charged atom. This charge occurs when an atom either gains or loses one or more electrons. If an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged (known as a cation), and if it gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged (known as an anion). This shift in electron count alters the overall charge of the atom, distinguishing ions from neutral atoms, which have an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no overall charge. Understanding the role of ions is fundamental in various chemical processes, including how they relate to the formation of ionic bonds and their interaction in biological systems.