What Does
Ions Mean?
Ions are atoms of any element or any atomic number which have either a negative or positive charge. This is due to the atom having either a missing electron, or an extra electron. Normal atoms are neutral and do not have a positive or negative charge, and this is because the number of electrons is the same as the atomic number.
Safeopedia Explains Ions
The atomic number of an atom dictates what kind of element it is. The atomic number is a result of how many protons the atom has. Protons have a positive charge and form part of an atom’s nucleus along with neutrons, which have a neutral charge. Electrons have a negative charge. Protons and electrons in a normal atom are balanced. In ions, there is either an extra electron or less one.