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What is the difference between an atom, and an ion? And how are ions formed?

Answer 1

An atom is a fundamental, NEUTRAL particle....

And an ion is one or more atoms with a non-neutral electrostatic charge. Typically, metals, electron-rich materials, are OXIDIZED to form positive ions...

#M(g) + Delta rarr M(g)^+ + e^(-)#

And non-metals, electron-poor materials, are REDUCED to form negative ions.....

#1/2X_2(g) + e^(-) rarr X^(-)#

Ions can also be formed from collections of atoms with an excess or deficiency of electrons...

#NO_3^(-)#, #HPO_4^(2-)#, #ClO_4^(-)#....#NH_4^+#

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.