Question

These 2 similarly spelled words mean a span of time longer than an era & an electrically charged atom:

a. an eon & an ion
b. an epoch & an ion
c. an era & an ion
d. an age & an ion

Answer 1

An eon is a span of time longer than an era, and an ion is an electrically charged atom or molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is a. an eon & an ion.

In geologic time, an eon is a span of time longer than an era. The Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic are the four eons, with the first three together known as the Precambrian. On the other hand, an ion is an electrically charged atom or molecule that has unequal numbers of electrons and protons.

For example, in the Phanerozoic Eon, we have different eras, like Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic, and within each era, there are further subdivisions into periods and epochs. This is similar to how ions are formed when electrons are added or removed from atoms, resulting in a nonzero total charge.