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How to Form an Ion

An ion is an atom or a compound that has an electrical charge. Ions with a positive charge are cations, those with a negative charge are anions. Ions are found everywhere in nature and are an important and natural part of the human body. There are many ways to form an ion. One of the easiest is to dissolve an ionic compound, which is a crystalline solid formed from two or more ions held together by electrical attraction. Most ionic compounds dissolve readily in ordinary water.

Things You'll Need

Glass
Table salt
Spoon

Instructions

- 1
  Pour some water into a glass. Water molecules are polar and have a slight difference in electrical charge across the molecule, which will attract the ions of the table salt, breaking their bonds with one another.
- 2
  Use the spoon to transfer some salt to the water. Table salt is one of the most commonly used examples of an ionic compound for chemistry and is highly characteristic of a typical ionic compound. It is made from sodium and chlorine ions that are bonded together electrically to form a cubic shape.
- 3
  Stir thoroughly. On the surface, it seems as though you are making salt water. On a molecular level, the sodium and chlorine ions are breaking apart in the water, forming ions. Ionic compounds dissolved in water are able to conduct electricity as well, so you can use the salt water to continue with other chemistry experiments.

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