What does an ion charge mean?

Question

What does an ion charge mean?

Answer 1

particles are made up of neutrons (neutral), protons (positive) and electrons (negative).

If a particle loses some electrons it will lose some negative and become slightly positively charged, hence an ion

If it loses some protons it will lose some positive and be slightly negatively charged, hence an ion.

also, gain an electron = more negative = ion

gain proton = more positive = ion

an ion is any charge particle

Please note this is a very simplified version.  For detail try to find some reading material online or at your local library.

Answer 2

the charge an ion has, eg if Cl gains an electron it becomes Cl- (a negatively charged ion)

& vice versa - lose an electron & it becomes positively charged

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