An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge.
Ionic compounds are compounds formed by the combination of positive and negative ions through electrostatic interactions. They are typically composed of a metal and a non-metal element.
Ions combine to form ionic compounds through a process called electrostatic attraction. Positively charged ions (cations) are attracted to negatively charged ions (anions) and form a stable compound through the transfer of electrons.
A cation is a positively charged ion that has lost one or more electrons. An anion is a negatively charged ion that has gained one or more electrons.
Ionic compounds are named by first identifying the cation and then the anion. The cation's name remains the same as the element, while the anion's name is altered to end in -ide. The charges of the ions are also included in the compound's name.