Definitions for "Ions"
Keywords:  anion, cation, atom, positive, negative
an atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons. Thus, a positively charged ion is one that has lost an electron and a negatively charged ion is one that has gained an electron.
chemicals (i.e., atoms or molecules) with positive charges ( cations) or negative charges ( anions). common ions found in fresh water include: sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), sulfate (SO-), carbonates (HCO-, CO-) and nitrate (NO-).
Atoms, groups of atoms, or compounds that are electrically charged as a result of the loss of electrons ( cations) or the gain of electrons ( anions).