Ions

• Ions are atoms that are charged
• Metal ions tend to be positive, and non-metals tend to be negative
• Atoms form ions when they lose (or gain) electrons
• A positive ion can only be formed if a negative ion is formed
• The metal atom transfers its outer electron to the non-metal, resulting in a positive metal ion & a negative non-metal ion
• When magnesium reacts with iodine, magnesium is losing electrons, transferring them to the iodine
• Why are elements not placed in order of increasing atomic weight?

  they would be in the wrong group