In the field of physics and chemistry, the concept of ion refers to an atom or group of atoms that obtains a net positive or negative charge, by gaining or losing one or more electrons.
In order to understand what an ion is, it is important to focus on the definition of other terms that are closely related. For this it is important that you are clear about what an atom is. This is a particle that cannot be divided by chemical methods and that is made up of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. Electrons are particles that have a negative electrical charge.
An atom is, therefore, a nucleus that has electrons around it. When an electron is added or detached, the atom acquires an electrical charge, this is what is called an ion. Therefore, ions are particles that have an electrical charge.
Ionization
The ionization process is the one carried out by an atom or molecule when it is transformed into an ion. Ionization can therefore be defined as the formation of electrically charged molecules or atoms.
Atoms are electrically neutral, since the negatively charged electrons are equal in number to the positive protons in the nuclei. The number of protons in an atom remains the same during chemical reactions, but it can lose or gain electrons.
Types of ions
A neutral atom can lose or gain one or more electrons. Based on this, two types of ions can be distinguished, which are cations and anions.
Briefly, a cation is an ion with a net positive charge, which it obtains after losing one or more electrons from the neutral atom. For its part, an anion is an icon whose net charge is negative, which has occurred after an increase in the number of electrons has occurred.
An atom can lose or gain more than one electron, as is the case with the ferric ion, which has three positive charges, or the sulfur ion, which has two negative ones. These ions are called monatomic ions because they only have one atom.
With certain exceptions, metals usually form cations, while nonmetals form ions. Likewise, two or more atoms can combine to form an ion that can have a net positive or negative charge. If they have more than one atom they are called polyatomic ions.
It is also important to note that to separate an electron from an isolated atom or ion in its ground state is known as ionization energy. It is represented in kJ/mol. Furthermore, the higher this energy is, the more difficult it is to remove the electron from the atom.
Cation
Cation is a term that derives from the Greek word kation, which, as we have already mentioned, refers to ions with a positive charge. It is a class of ion that has a positive charge as a result of the addition or loss of electrons.
When a cation establishes an ionic bond with anions, which are those with a negative electrical charge, they form a salt. This is the result of a chemical reaction that takes place between the base contributed by the cation and the acid of the negatively charged ion (anion).
Cations are found in the human body, being present through potassium, sodium and other ionized salts. In fact, the salt obtained from the aforementioned chemical reaction is the one used to season food.
Cations can be simple and polyatomic. In the first there are some such as copper II, gallium, helium, hydrogen, zinc, magnesium, lithium, potassium, silver, while among the second are ammonium, hydroni, nitronium or mercirium I, among others.
Anion
Anion, for its part, is the ion that has a negative charge, which is due to the fact that it has gained certain electrons. As in the case of cations, one can distinguish between monatomic anions and polyatomic anions.
Within the first set of them are those that have a negative oxidation state, while in the second are those that can present a different oxidation state in each atom, although as a whole it is linked by a general charge that it is negative.
Monatomic anions are primarily metals that have a valence that has been completed through the gain of electrons. Polyatomic anions are part of acids that were formed by molecules that either managed to gain electrons or lost protons.
Polyatomic anions that result in acid formation are called acidic anions. These are produced when protons are lost.
Benefits of anions for humans
The anion has different benefits for humans, some of the most important being the following:
- They help strengthen the immune system.
- They reduce allergies by collaborating in cleaning the air.
- Eliminates bacteria, by providing enough oxygen to kill bacteria.
- Helps combat stress.
- It allows to relax the mind.
- Helps when regulating blood pressure.
- It is used to combat cases of anxiety and outbreaks of violence.
- Contributes to improving the performance of the digestive system
- And so on.
To consume anion and benefit from its benefits, you can drink ionized water or use anion tape, which is a chewable product.