Radiation and Radiological Disasters. Acids, bases, and salts (electrolytes) when dissolved in certain solvents, especially water, are more or less dissociated into electrically charged ions or parts of the molecules, due to loss or gain of one or more electrons. Loss of electrons results in positive charges producing a cation. A gain of electrons results in the formation of an anion with negative charges. The valence of an ion is equal to the number of charges borne by it. (Bul D11)