Ion Exchange Resin

Ion exchange is a reversible chemical process in which dissolved ions are extracted from a solution and substituted with other ions possessing the same or similar electrical charge. IX resin, although not a chemical reactant on its own, serves as a physical medium that facilitates ion exchange reactions. Comprised of organic polymers forming a network of hydrocarbons, the resin contains ion exchange sites within its polymer matrix. These sites feature "functional groups" attached to the polymer network, consisting of either positively-charged ions (cations) or negatively-charged ions (anions). These functional groups avidly attract ions with an opposing charge.