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Questions tagged [ions]

For questions about ions - atomic or molecular particles having a net electric charge. Do NOT use this tag just because your question involves ions but is not about the ions themselves (as in electrochemistry, etc.).

Ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. An ion consisting of a single atom is an atomic or monatomic ion; if it consists of two or more atoms, it is a molecular or polyatomic ion.

The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass ("go") between electrodes in a solution when an electric field is applied. It is the transliteration of the Greek participle ἰόν, ión, "going".

According to the IUPAC goldbook:

An atomic or molecular particle having a net electric charge.

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Why does salt dissolved in water taste like salt? If it's just Na+ and Cl- ions

When $\ce{NaCl}$ is dissolved into water it breaks down into $\ce{Na+}$ and $\ce{Cl-}$. It stays in this form until the water evaporates and then the ions go back to normal $\ce{NaCl}$. So why does water with salt in it still taste like salt? I am…
Pi_Co
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Why is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI-BF4) often considered a prototypical room temperature ionic liquid?

It seems from a brief search of the literature that 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI-BF4) is a prototypical room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) that has been studied extensively. However, numerous -- almost limitless --…
Andrew
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Is ionic charge just a label?

We say that when an atom loses an electron it becomes positively charged ion, and similarly when an atom gains electrons it becomes a negatively charged ion. My question is that are 'positive' and 'negative' just labels indicating more protons than…
user53048
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What is the arrangement of water molecules in a hydration shell around an anion?

I believe I read somewhere that the hydration shell of ions always has hydrogen on the outside, but I can't relocate the exact whereabouts of this. Thus, I decided to ask here, as to what the arrangement of the water molecules around a anion is (is…
Sharky Kesa
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Can atoms other than hydrogen be reduced to a bare nucleus?

In acid-base theory, hydrogen is able to become the $\ce{H+}$ ion, or a bare proton. I'm curious if other, larger atoms can have their electrons stripped to the point of being only a nucleus. I know helium can in the form of an alpha particle, but…
mcchucklezz
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Do chaotropic and kosmotropic affects occur in polar non-aqueous media?

For example can I introduce salts that have a chaotropic or kosmotropic affect on ethanol? Or is this phenomenon restricted to water? If this phenomenon does occur in other polar solvents, does it follow the Hofmeister series as well? Are there any…
user2538073
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Calculating the charges of anions and cations

I am new to chemistry. Could someone explain me how to calculate the charges on anions and cations. I've heard about some crossing method (the left subscript becomes the right superscript and the right subscript becomes the left super…
privetDruzia
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Can the electrolytes be in gaseous state?

Possible Duplicate: Will gaseous ionic compounds be free moving ions? I know it sounds extremely expensive, but what if we could heat the ionic compound to evaporate it and achieve the lattice energy and break them into free ions, wouldn't the…
Abdelrahman Esmat
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Why is the hydride ion negative?

Recently, I saw a video about sodium hydride and it saw it was made up with $\ce{Na+}$ ions and $\ce{H-}$ ions. My problem is: aren't all hydrogen ions positive? And in what conditions can $\ce{H-}$ occur?
Simon-Nail-It
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Why is the periodate anion not found?

Chlorine can be found as the following oxoanions $\ce{ClO–} , \ce{ClO2-}, \ce{ClO3-}, \ce{ClO4-}$ in many chemical stockrooms. However, iodine is never found as $\ce{IO4-}$. Explain this observation. I didn't really find any reason as to why…
Teoc
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What is the difference between polyatomic ions and compounds?

I don't understand why things like hydrogen phosphate are polyatomic ions but things like potassium nitrate are compounds. Can someone explain to me what the difference is, besides that ions are charged?
Kai
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When does a solute form ions?

If I have $\ce{HCl}$ and I put it in water, it will form ions. But, if I take $\ce{HCl}$ and put in benzene, it won't. How do you know that? If I had other substances, how would I know if it forms ions or not?
copper
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What is the difference between carboxylate ions and groups?

I would like to know the difference between carboxylate ions carboxyl groups? An example is is $\ce{COOH}$ and $\ce{COO}$.
Rachel Tan
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why is potassium the most free element in most of plants

Potassium is known to be the most freely available mobile element. I am wondering why that is the case? Is the answer hidden in its atomic structure or its monovalent cationic existance?
romaan
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Why is Fluoride anion less stable than iodide anion?

Down the halogen group , electropositive character increases , then why is it that Fluoride ion is the least stable ? The counter arguement is that fluoride ion has four lone pairs and a small size which makes it least stable.Down the group , since…
Aditya Prakash
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