Ions and Ionic Compounds

Ions are electrically charged atoms or groups of atoms. Ionic compounds are substances composed of positive and negative ions. Ionic compounds have no net electrical charge and are neutral. When an atom gains or loses electrons, it forms negative or positive ions. Anions are negatively charged ions and cations are positively charged ions. Polyatomic ions are a group of bonded atoms with an electrical charge. Monoatomic ions are composed of only one atom.