How can I know the difference between an atom and an ion of the same element?
5 years ago
Answered By Kiran D
Hi!
Interesting question - a atom involves a bunch of stuff put together so to speak. Its made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons don't have a charge and electrons have a negative charge. The number of protons and neutrons in an atom changes what that atom is. Differences in protons and neutrons give us everything from hydrogen, mercury, gold...you name it. Protons and neutrons do not go anywhere from an atom. It is only electrons that get transferred between atoms to create chemical reactions and ions.
Atoms are neutral - meaning they have the same number of protons and electrons so they cancel each other out. Atoms can either gain or lose electrons to form ions. Ions are basically atoms with a charge on them. If an atom loses an electron, there are more protons than electrons, and the atom becomes a more positively charged ion. Simply put, an atom lost negative charge and became more positive. Atoms can also gain electrons to become more negative, as more electrons outnumber the number of protons in an atom.
Ions, or atoms with a charge, can totally change the chemical and physical properties of an atom. Scientists need to understand how this works so they don't create explosions in their lab or make foods that make us sick because the chemicals they used were the wrong charge. Its a big deal!
5 years ago
Answered By Stephanie R
Both ions and atoms have component parts. Atoms are neutral- they have an equal number of protons and electrons. Ions either have more or less electrons than they do protons.
5 years ago
Answered By Malti C
The difference between an atom and an ion has to do with net electrical charge. Ion is a particle or collection of particles wit a net positive or negative charge. An atom is the basic unit of an element. The identity of an element is determined by the number of positively charged protons in the atom's nucleus. A stable atom contains the same number of electrons as protons and no net charge.
When electrons are added or removed, the stable atom becomes an ion.
5 years ago
Answered By Kiran D
Hi!
Interesting question - a atom involves a bunch of stuff put together so to speak. Its made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons don't have a charge and electrons have a negative charge. The number of protons and neutrons in an atom changes what that atom is. Differences in protons and neutrons give us everything from hydrogen, mercury, gold...you name it. Protons and neutrons do not go anywhere from an atom. It is only electrons that get transferred between atoms to create chemical reactions and ions.
Atoms are neutral - meaning they have the same number of protons and electrons so they cancel each other out. Atoms can either gain or lose electrons to form ions. Ions are basically atoms with a charge on them. If an atom loses an electron, there are more protons than electrons, and the atom becomes a more positively charged ion. Simply put, an atom lost negative charge and became more positive. Atoms can also gain electrons to become more negative, as more electrons outnumber the number of protons in an atom.
Ions, or atoms with a charge, can totally change the chemical and physical properties of an atom. Scientists need to understand how this works so they don't create explosions in their lab or make foods that make us sick because the chemicals they used were the wrong charge. Its a big deal!
5 years ago
Answered By Stephanie R
Both ions and atoms have component parts. Atoms are neutral- they have an equal number of protons and electrons. Ions either have more or less electrons than they do protons.
5 years ago
Answered By Malti C
The difference between an atom and an ion has to do with net electrical charge. Ion is a particle or collection of particles wit a net positive or negative charge. An atom is the basic unit of an element. The identity of an element is determined by the number of positively charged protons in the atom's nucleus. A stable atom contains the same number of electrons as protons and no net charge.
When electrons are added or removed, the stable atom becomes an ion.