Question

Ions, periodic table questions.... Please answer if you could?

What exactly are ions? Could ANY element on the periodic table become an ion? What do the charges on the periodic table for each element mean (2+, 1-, 2-, etc...)?

Answer 1

In brief, all elements can become ions, but some seldom do.

See below for more details.

Explanation:

Each element has a particular number of protons in its nucleus. This number is the 'atomic number', and it is the number of protons in the nucleus that makes something a particular element: 1 for hydrogen, 8 for oxygen, 17 for chlorine and so on.

If the atom has the same number of electrons orbiting the nucleus as protons in the nucleus it will have an overall electric charge of `0`, since protons have a charge of `+1` units and electrons have a charge of `-1` units.

If an element gains additional electrons, it will become a negative ion. One additional electron leads to a `-1` charge, two to `-2` and so on.

If, on the other hand, an atom loses electrons, it will end up as a positive ion, with a charge of `+1`, `+2` and so on.

All elements can become ions, but those on the left side of the periodic table tend to become positive ions while those on the right side become negative ions. The 'noble gas' or 'inert gas' elements only become ions under very extreme conditions: most times they have no charge.