Enter your atom's Number of Protons and Number of Electrons into the Ion Calculator to find the Ion Charge, along with the Charge Type (cation or anion), Charge Magnitude, and how many electrons were gained or lost — toss in an optional Element Symbol to personalize your results.
Ion Charge
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Charge Type
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Charge Magnitude
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Electron Gain/Loss
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Ion charge is calculated by subtracting the number of electrons from the number of protons. If protons > electrons, the ion is positive (cation). If electrons > protons, the ion is negative (anion).
A cation is a positively charged ion (has fewer electrons than protons), while an anion is a negatively charged ion (has more electrons than protons). The charge magnitude determines how many electrons were gained or lost.
Yes, when an atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons, it has zero net charge and is electrically neutral. This is the normal state for most atoms before they form ions.
The maximum positive charge is limited by the number of electrons an atom can lose (usually valence electrons), while maximum negative charge depends on how many electrons the atom can accommodate in its outer shells.
Ion charge determines how ions interact with each other. Opposite charges attract to form ionic bonds, while like charges repel. The magnitude of charge affects the strength of these interactions.
Elements with multiple valence states (like transition metals) can lose different numbers of electrons, forming ions with different charges. For example, iron can form Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺ ions.