Charge (Chemistry)

In chemistry, the charge on an ion is the net electrical charge caused by an imbalance in positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. It is represented by a superscript number indicating the charge, such as Na+, which is a sodium ion with a single positive charge (it has one proton more than it has electrons).

Notation examples

 * PO4 - phosphate is a complex ion with three more electrons than protons.
 * Fe - iron (II) is an ion with two less electrons than a neutral iron atom.