positive ion

noun Physics, Chemistry.

See under ion(def 1).

Words nearby positive ion

positive electricity, positive electron, positive end-expiratory pressure, positive eugenics, positive feedback, positive ion, positive law, positive organ, positive polarity, positive ray, positive scotoma

Definition for positive ion (2 of 2)

ion
[ ahy-uh n, ahy-on ]
/ ˈaɪ ən, ˈaɪ ɒn /

noun Physics, Chemistry.

an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons, as a cation (positive ion), which is created by electron loss and is attracted to the cathode in electrolysis, or as an anion (negative ion), which is created by an electron gain and is attracted to the anode. The valence of an ion is equal to the number of electrons lost or gained and is indicated by a plus sign for cations and a minus sign for anions, thus: Na+, Cl−, Ca++, S=.
one of the electrically charged particles formed in a gas by electric discharge or the like.

Origin of ion

< Greek ión going, neuter present participle of iénai to go; term introduced by Michael Faraday in 1834

British Dictionary definitions for positive ion

ion
/ (ˈaɪən, -ɒn) /

noun

an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons See also cation, anion

Word Origin for ion

C19: from Greek, literally: going, from ienai to go

Medical definitions for positive ion

ion
[ ī′ən, ī′ŏn′ ]

n.

An atom or a group of atoms that has acquired a net electric charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons.

Scientific definitions for positive ion

ion
[ ī′ən, ī′ŏn′ ]

An atom or a group of atoms that has an electric charge. Positive ions, or cations, are formed by the loss of electrons; negative ions, or anions, are formed by the gain of electrons.

Cultural definitions for positive ion

ion
[ (eye-uhn, eye-on) ]

An atom that has either lost or gained one or more electrons, so that it has an electrical charge. Ions can be either positively or negatively charged.