An anion is an ion (atom or molecule) with a negative electrical charge, which is produced as a result of having gained one or more electrons. An anion is the opposite of a cation, which has a positively charged ion. Among the types of anion we find the monatomics that are non-metals that have gained electrons, thus having the completion of their valence. The monatomics are named using the word anion followed by the suffix “uro” at the end of the name of the atom to which the last vowels are eliminated. Charging on the anion can be omitted if it has only one charge. Such as Cl- or chloride anion.
Polyatomics are another class of anions, which come from other molecules with loss of one or more hydrogen ions. The most common polyatomics are oxoanions and it is considered that this type of ions come from an acid that has lost or given up its hydrogen. In this case, the oxidation state can vary. To name polyatomic anions, the word anion is used followed by the suffixes "ito" if it acts with the lower valence and "ato" if it acts with the higher valence.
Under this term, we find the anion gap or anion gap, which is the difference between cations and anions measured in serum, plasma or urine. This is used in medicine to try to identify the causes of certain disorders in the body.
It is worth mentioning that anions have a series of benefits for human health, because they can strengthen the immune system, reduce allergies, increase energy and physical resistance, penetrate the cells of bacteria and eliminate them, improve the apparatus digestive among others.
