anion

An anion is an atom or molecule that has gained one or more electrons. This gives the anion a negative charge.

Anion is a combination of the Greek words "an" meaning "not" and "ion" meaning "going". This is because anions are negatively charged particles that move towards the positive end of an electric field.

Anions are found in many different substances, including salt, water, and acids. They are also important in living things, where they play a role in many different processes, such as cell signalling and metabolism.

Here is a fun fact about anions:

• The smallest anion is the chloride ion (Cl-), which has 17 electrons.

The word "anion" can be used in a variety of ways, but it is most often used in scientific contexts. For example, you could say that "anions are negatively charged particles that move towards the positive end of an electric field.".