Bonds & ions

Anion — অ্যানায়ন

Quick answer

An anion is a negatively charged ion, formed when an atom or molecule gains one or more extra electrons.

Definition

An anion is an ion with a negative charge, made when an atom or molecule gains one or more extra electrons, so electrons outnumber protons. Nonmetals form anions readily: chlorine becomes Cl⁻, oxygen O²⁻, and whole groups of atoms can be anions too, such as SO4\mathrm{SO_{4}}²⁻ and NO3\mathrm{NO_{3}}⁻. With more electrons crowded under the same nuclear pull, anions are larger than their parent atoms, and during electrolysis they migrate to the positive electrode and hand over their extra electrons there.

For example

In a hospital saline drip, sodium chloride floats apart into Na⁺ cations and Cl⁻ anions; in blue copper sulfate solution, the colour and the negative charge both ride on the SO4\mathrm{SO_{4}}²⁻ anion.

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