electric attraction

[rory8]

can a positively charged ion be pulled away from a negatively charged atom. say like in salt water where the negative ends of the salt join with the positive ends and vice versa. so how could they be pulled apart

[darkenlighten]

Seems like you are asking if a negatively charged atom/molecule can be repelled by a positively charged atom/molecule. The answer would be no, they would attract.

[Amr Morsi]

But don't forget that ions do contain shells of negative electrons. And that is the reason they remain separated by a certain distance.