What is the result of combining several ions?

Combining several ions results in the formation of a compound, which is a distinct chemical substance formed when two or more elements bond together in specific ratios. This bonding can occur through ionic bonds, where positively charged ions (cations) attract negatively charged ions (anions), creating a stable structure. The combination of ions leads to the creation of neutral compounds, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), where the overall charge is balanced.

In contrast, a mixture involves substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded, so their individual properties remain. A solution refers to a uniform mixture of substances, typically where a solute is dissolved in a solvent, and although solutions can contain ions, the term doesn’t directly imply the formation of a new chemical substance like a compound does. While crystals can form from the arrangement of ions in a solid lattice structure, this term describes the physical form that compounds can take rather than the chemical identity resulting from the combination of the ions.