Question

What is an ion?

Answer 1

Hint: An ion may be an atom or molecule or even a particle which has some electrical charge on it. The charge on an ion may be positive or negative. But an ion cannot be neutral in nature. Ions are categorized further depending upon their charge.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
A famous chemist Michel Faraday first coined the term “ion” for the particles which are capable of moving from one electrode to another under the influence of electric current.
The ions which possess positive charge on them are known as cation while negative charge containing ions are known as anion. A positively charged ion i.s Cation contains a smaller number of electrons and higher number of protons due to which it has net positive charge on it. while in case of Anion this situation is reversed and the number of protons decreases than the number of electrons which results in imparting net negative charge to the anion.
Ions are highly reactive species which can combine in their gaseous state to form a new compound. In a chemical reaction these oppositely charged ions combine in a specific stoichiometry to form a new compound which is known as ionic compound.
For example, reaction between sodium ions and chloride ions leads to the formation of neutral compound sodium chloride.
$N{a^ + } + C{l^ - } \to NaCl$
Ionic compounds formed are very hard and have high boiling and melting points. They act as a good conductor of electricity but only in their aqueous state when free ions are present to move.

Note:
Movement of ions under the influence of electric field is deflected on applying external magnetic field. Ions are generated in their gaseous state as well as in their liquid state during hydrolysis of salt.