[x-ecutioner]

my definition that i have attained for an ion is that:
an ion is a charged atom or molecule due to its unequal number of protons and neutrons.

but can an ion only be formed through means of ionic bonding? does it have to be between a metal and a non metal and does there have to be a transfer?

I assume that a covalent bond results in an unequal number of protons and neutrons; but are the atoms in a covalent bond still considered ionic?


in addition, which of the following statements would make more sense:
a) polyatomic ion- a group of atoms that tend to stay together and carry an overall charge
OR
b) polyatomic ion- a group of ions that tend to stay together and carry an overall charge.

[Arctic-Nation]

If you'd have said that an ion is any atom or molecule that contains an unequal number of protons and electrons, you'd have been basically correct.

Ionization, however, can happen between almost any two atoms, molecules, or atoms and molecules. While a classical example of an ionic substance is a salt such as NaCl (where Na gives an electron to Cl), in organic compounds acid-base reactions are all about ionization (for example, when HCl dissociates into H+ and Cl-) or de-ionization (for lack of a better word) (the reaction between H+ and OH+ to produce water).

[JGK]

I assume that a covalent bond results in an unequal number of protons and neutrons; but are the atoms in a covalent bond still considered ionic?

In forming a covalent bond the electron are "shared" between the molecules and will be within the shared bonding orbital at any point in time. Consequently, the covalently bonded molecule is not Ionic. Some covalently bonded compounds can exhibit slight electronegativity/electropositivity in certain areas of the molecule due to Inductive effects however, this is far less than the unit positive/negative charges exhibited by ions.