need help with understanding ions

Question

I dont understand how to find how many ions an element has

Answer 1

An ion forms when an atom, which is neutrally charged because it has an equal number of protons and electrons, gains or loses one or more electrons.

A cation is positively charged because it has lost one or more electrons.  Na → Na⁺  + e^-

 

An anion negatively charged because it had gained one or more electrons.  Cl + e^- → Cl^1-

 

Group 1 elements tend to form cations with a charge of +1; group 2 elements tend to form cations with a charge of +2, Aluminum forms a +3 cation, Nitrogen forms a -3 anion, Oxygen forms a -2 anion, Fluorine forms a 1- anion.

 

Answer 2

An element has an atomic number, which equals the number of protons in its nucleus.  When neutral, that number must also equal the number of electrons in its electron shell.  Each time you remove an electron from the shell, the atom is ionized and acquires a + charge.  For example, consider helium, He:

 

Atomic number = 2

Remove 1 electron and get He⁺

Remove a second electron and get He⁺²

 

You cannot remove more electrons than the total available to start with, which equals the atomic number.  That should tell you how many ions are possible for the particular element.  Also, it gets harder to remove additional electrons.