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how many elements have charge?

 Atoms do not have charges unless they are ions. They become ions when another element "takes" their electron. Elements (in their pure form) in the periodic table do not have charges. However, there are certain tendencies of elements to become anions (ions with negative charges) or cations (ions with positive charges) based upon their individual compositions. Group 1 elements (Li, Na, K etc.) have similar chemical properties that make them "want" to have a charge of +1. Group 2 elements form 2+ ions, and Group 3 elements form 3+ ions. Group 4 elements may have a charge of either 4+ or 4- and need to be memorized. The elements that form negative ions are in Group 6 (2- charge) and Group 7 (1- charge). Noble gases have their outermost energy levels full of electrons and are "balanced" and thus have a very low tendency to become ions.


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