ion exchange
noun
: a reversible interchange of one kind of ion present on an insoluble solid with another of like charge present in a solution surrounding the solid with the reaction being used especially for softening or demineralizing water, the purification of chemicals, or the separation of substances
ion exchanger
noun
Examples of ion exchange in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For more advanced needs, reverse osmosis or ion exchange systems provide powerful purification, though with higher upfront costs and energy demands.
—
Sahit Muja, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Salt Water Softener These systems remove minerals that cause hard water through a process called ion exchange.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
The district now uses ion exchange technology to remove PFAS from water, an approach that uses tiny beads to filter out the chemicals.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Other options include reverse osmosis or ion exchange resins, which act like tiny magnets that attract PFAS chemicals.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Water softeners use a process called ion exchange in order to replace those minerals with sodium, making the water less hard.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
Then, there is an iron and manganese filter that uses ion exchange to catch unwanted particles and reduces chlorine.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
The company uses an ion exchange technology that washes brine through bead structures which absorb the lithium minerals and flush out the rest of the water and its remaining minerals.
—Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
The glass is made to be tough through a process called ion exchange.
—Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sahit Muja, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Salt Water Softener These systems remove minerals that cause hard water through a process called ion exchange.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
The district now uses ion exchange technology to remove PFAS from water, an approach that uses tiny beads to filter out the chemicals.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Other options include reverse osmosis or ion exchange resins, which act like tiny magnets that attract PFAS chemicals.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Water softeners use a process called ion exchange in order to replace those minerals with sodium, making the water less hard.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
Then, there is an iron and manganese filter that uses ion exchange to catch unwanted particles and reduces chlorine.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
The company uses an ion exchange technology that washes brine through bead structures which absorb the lithium minerals and flush out the rest of the water and its remaining minerals.
—Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
The glass is made to be tough through a process called ion exchange.
—Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Ion exchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ion%20exchange. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ion exchange
noun
ion ex·change
-iks-ˈchānj 
: a reversible interchange of one kind of ion present on an insoluble solid with another of like charge present in a solution surrounding the solid with the reaction being used especially for softening or demineralizing water, purifying chemicals, or separating substances
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share