Do ions glow

Answer 1

It depends which ion you are referring to. The term "ion" in chemistry refers to an atom or molecule where the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. Since protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged, if there are more electrons than protons, the atom or molecule will be negatively charged. This is called an anion. Conversely, if there are more protons than electrons, the atom or molecule will be positively charged. This is called a cation. If an ion contains unpaired electrons, it is called a radical ion. Just like neutral radicals, radical ions are very reactive. Ions are generally commonly seen in solution, for example with sodium chloride in water, where Cl- and Na+ ions exist, unviewable by the naked eye.

You may be thinking of plasma ions. In physics, plasma is a collection of non-aqueous gas-like ions, or even a gas containing a proportion of charged particles, is called a plasma, often called the fourth state of matter because its properties are quite different from solids, liquids, and gases. Plasma is a partially ionized gas, in which a certain proportion of electrons are free rather than being bound to an atom or molecule. Plasma glows, generally due to the face that ionized molecules have electrons that have been excited to a higher atomic state, and upon those electrons returning to its normal state, will release light of different colors, depending on the level of excitation. These are also ions, however they are a different category in itself.

Answer 2

Ions themselves do not glow, but when ions are excited or energized, they can emit light. This occurs in gas discharge lamps, neon signs, and other lighting sources where ions are used to produce visible light.