How is an ion formed?

Answer 1

An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses an electron in bonding with another atom, causing the atom to become a positive or negative ion. Since electrons are negative, if an atom loses an electron, there are more protons (which are positive) than electrons, which causes the atom to become a positive ion (sometimes called a cation.) If an atom gains an electron it becomes a negative ion (or anion.) Ions are most commonly formed when two elements undergo ionic bonding, in which the elements 'give and take' electrons to gain full outer shells.

Answer 2

An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge. If an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion (anion), and if it loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation). This process occurs to achieve stability by achieving a full outer electron shell.

Answer 3

Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses electrons and gets charged. If an atom gains electrons, number of electrons exceed from the number of proton and hence an atom gets negatively charged.

Similarly if an atom looses electrons the total number of protons become more than the number of electrons.. and the atom becomes positively charged.

Answer 4

• ion forms when the ionic bond is charged by two oppositely charged ions

An ion forms when an atom acquire either extra or a deficiency of electrons. Positive ions form when an atom encounters another atom that has a higher affinity for its electrons. For example a sodium atom when it encounters a fluorine atom will give one of its electrons to the fluorine atom the sodium atom then becomes a +1 ion and the fluorine atom becomes a -1 ion.

There are two (not always opposing forces) that sometimes favour the formation of ions.

1. The 'desire' for an atom to remain electro-statically neutral. That is to have as many electrons as the atomic nucleus has protons.
2. The 'desire' that the atom has to have noble gas configuration.

Sodium in its electro-static neutral state has one more electron than a noble gas configuration- so it has a desire to give up that electron, but also has a desire to keep it.

Fluorine in its electro-static neutral state has one electron short of a noble gas configuration - so it has a desire to get an electron, but also a desire not to.

When the two atom get together there is a balancing of desires and it is discovered that they would rather be noble gas configurations then electro-statically neutral - so atoms are formed.

NOTE: THIS DOESN"T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION THAT WELL. IT DIDN'T FOR ME AT LEAST.

Answer 5

When energy is imparted to an atom or molecule, this energy can cause an electron to be displaced from one of the electron shells in the atom or one of the atoms comprising the molecule. When this happens the atom or molecule is no longer electrically neutral and becomes an ion.

Answer 6

Ions are formed when certain elements fuse like salt dissolving into water.

Answer 7

By either adding or subtracting electrons from the atom.

Answer 8

By gaining or losing electrons the ions can return to their atomic state, like in electrolysis.

Answer 9

When an atom loss(positive) or gain(negative) of electrons they form its ion.

Answer 10

An ion is formed by loss (cation) or gain (anion) of electrons.