Question

What is an ion?

Answer 1

This is an atomic or molecular particle with a FORMAL electornic charge....

Explanation:

Anions are produced by reduction....`"formal electron gain"`

`1/2I_2(s) + e^(-) rarr I^(-)`

And cations are produced by oxidation loss....`"formal electron LOSS"`

`Na(s) rarr Na^(+)+ e^(-)`

These are individual redox reactions, the which we add together in such a way that the electrons are eliminated....

`Na(s)+1/2I_2(s) rarr NaI(s)`

But in essence, ions are formed by electron transfer....gain or loss of same...