What is a cation?

A cation is defined as a positively charged ion. This occurs when an atom or a molecule loses one or more electrons. Since electrons have a negative charge, losing them results in a net positive charge on the ion. Cations are important in various chemical reactions, especially in the context of ionic bonding, where they typically interact with anions, which are negatively charged ions.

In contrast, a negatively charged ion refers to an anion, while an atom with no charge is called a neutral atom. Neutrons, which are neutral particles found in the nucleus of an atom, do not affect the charge directly; thus, the loss of neutrons does not create a cation. The distinction among these terms is crucial for understanding chemical behavior, electronegativity, and the formation of compounds during chemical reactions.