<p class="sensei-content-description"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">What is an ion?</mark><br>Compounds composed of metals and nonmetals contain charged species. The charged species are known as ions. Ions may consist of a single charged atom or a group of atoms that have a net charge on them. An ion can be negatively or positively charged. A negatively charged ion is called an ‘anion’ and the positively charged ion, a ‘cation’. Take, for example, <div class="sign-up-notice-after-excerpt-two" style="background-color:powderblue;"> You are viewing an excerpt of this lesson. Subscribing to the subject will give you access to the following: <ul> <li>The complete lesson note and evaluation questions for this topic</li> <li>The complete lessons for the subject and class (First Term, Second Term & Third Term)</li> <li>Media-rich, interactive and gamified content</li> <li>End-of-lesson objective questions with detailed explanations to force mastery of content</li> <li>Simulated termly preparatory exams</li> <li>Discussion boards on all lessons and subjects</li> <li>Guaranteed learning</li> <li>Win great prizes for topping the <a href="https://www.primacyebooks.com">Primacy Ebooks</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="sensei-message info"></div>