noun
anion
AN-eye-un/ˈænaɪən/
An ion with a negative electric charge.
The diagram marks the chloride anion with a negative charge.
Etymology
The pieces mean “going up.” This names the ion by its movement toward the anode during electrolysis; the anode’s own name means “way upward.”
In context
when fluorine captures an electron it's going to turn into the fluoride ion and now it has a negative charge so this ion is known as an anion because it has a negative charge
More examples
- The solution contains both cations and anions.
- The student identifies which atom becomes an anion.
- An anion carries more electrons than its neutral counterpart.
Forms
anion · anions
Similar words
- ion
- The broader category, including positively charged particles.