What are Cations?

Give example

A cation is a positively charged ion that has lost one or more electrons. Cations are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons to become positively charged.

Examples of cations include:

1. Sodium (Na+) - formed when sodium loses one electron to become positively charged.
2. Calcium (Ca2+) - formed when calcium loses two electrons to become positively charged.
3. Iron (Fe3+) - formed when iron loses three electrons to become positively charged.
4. Potassium (K+) - formed when potassium loses one electron to become positively charged.
5. Ammonium (NH4+) - formed when ammonia loses one electron to become positively charged.

These are just a few examples of cations, but there are many more. Cations are important in many areas of chemistry, including ionic compounds, acid-base reactions, and biochemistry.