What are ions?
A. In the later part of the 19th century, Elster and Geitel in Germany and J.J. Thompson of England discovered ions in the air. The term ion comes from the Greek word for traveler . Ions simply are molecules or atoms that have lost or gained an electron. These charged particles in the air are formed when enough energy acts on a molecule causing an electron to jump from one molecule to another. Once the equilibrium has been upset, the original molecule has one more positive charge than negative charge. This is called a positively charged ion. Negatively charged ions are formed when the displaced electron attaches itself to a nearby molecule, giving it an extra negative charge. This formation process is continuous and is called Ionization. It is important to note only small, negatively charged ions that can be inhaled will provide healthy biological effects on your body.
Ions are nothing more than atoms or molecules that have gained or lost an electron. Ions are formed when an electron is detached from a neutral molecule (or atom). The molecule losing an electron becomes a positive ions and the molecules gainning an electron becomes a NEGATIVE ION. Ions are charged particles in the air, formed when enough energy acts on a molecule such as carbon dioxide, oxygen water or nitrogen- to eject an electron, the displaced electron attaches itself to a nearby molecule, which then becomes a Negative ion. The original molecule (minus an electron) is now a positive ion. These ions, in turn, react with dust and pollutants to form larger particles. Small negative-ions (usually not more than 12 gases molecule clustered around a charged atom or molecule) are short lived and highly mobile.
