Ion

__ Ions: __


 * Ions** are electrically charged atoms. Ions cannot be neutral; they are either positive or negative in charge. A positive'y charged ion is called a **cation**, while a negatively charged ion is called an **anion**. The amount of electrons an atom has in the energy levels surrounding the nucleus determines its charge.

Cations: Ions that have positive charges. If an atom has one ore more less **electrons** than **protons**, then it has a positive charge. This is due to the fact that electrons are negatively charged, while protons hold a positive charge. If there are more protons than electrons, the charge is positive.

Anions: Ions that have negative charges. If an atom has one or more electrons than protons, its charge is negative. This is due to the presence of more negatively charged electrons than positively charged protons.

With ions, opposite charges attract, while like charges repel each other. In nature, with magnetism, a north and south pole will be attracted to each other, while two north poles won't attract to each other, and two south poles won't attract to each other either. Ions are exactly the same way. Cations and anions are attracted to each other by their opposite charges. This is critical in the formation of ionic bonds, a type of chemical bond that makes up many non-living and living materials and substances in and on Earth, as well as in the rest of the universe.