Final answer:
Positive ions (cations) form when atoms lose electrons, while negative ions (anions) form when atoms gain electrons. The process of electron transfer between atoms during ionization results in ions, which are then held together by ionic bonds in ionic compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Positive ions, or cations, are formed when atoms lose one or more electrons from their valence shell, resulting in a net positive charge due to the presence of more protons than electrons. Conversely, negative ions, or anions, are created when atoms gain one or more electrons in their valence shell, giving them a net negative charge as they then have more electrons than protons. During the formation of ionic compounds, these ions come together because of the attraction between opposite charges, where the total positive and negative charges are balanced, as seen in the ionic bond between sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−), forming sodium chloride (NaCl).
The nomenclature for anions includes the alteration of the elemental name to end in '-ide'; for example, chlorine becomes chloride upon ionization. Elements and compounds that are electrically neutral contain equal numbers of protons and electrons. But with ionization, electrons are transferred between atoms, leading to species with overall electric charges - these species are known as ions. Ionic bonds hold the resulting positively and negatively charged ions together similar to the way two oppositely charged magnets would stick together.