cation (kăt'ī`ən), atom or group of atoms carrying a positive charge. The charge results because there are more protons than electrons in the cation. Cations can be formed from a metal by oxidation (see oxidation and reduction oxidation and reduction, complementary chemical reactions characterized by the loss or gain, respectively, of one or more electrons by an atom or molecule. Originally the term oxidation
..... Click the link for more information. ), from a neutral base (see acids and bases acids and bases, two related classes of chemicals; the members of each class have a number of common properties when dissolved in a solvent, usually water.

Properties

..... Click the link for more information. ) by protonation, or from a polar compound by ionization. Cationic species include Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and NH₄⁺. The cations of the transition elements transition elements or transition metals, in chemistry, group of elements characterized by the filling of an inner d electron orbital as atomic number increases.
..... Click the link for more information. have characteristic colors in water solution. Salts salt, chemical compound (other than water) formed by a chemical reaction between an acid and a base (see acids and bases ).

Characteristics and Classification of Salts

..... Click the link for more information. are made up of cations and anions anion (ăn`ī'ən), atom or group of atoms carrying a negative charge.
..... Click the link for more information. . See ion ion, atom or group of atoms having a net electric charge .

Positive and Negative Electric Charges

A neutral atom or group of atoms becomes an ion by gaining or losing one or more electrons or protons.
..... Click the link for more information. .

cation

Atom or group of atoms carrying a positive electric charge, indicated by a superscript plus sign after the chemical symbol. Cations in a liquid subjected to an electric field collect at the negative pole (cathode). Examples include sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and ammonium (NH₄⁺; see ammonia). See also ion; compare anion.

cation

See ion.

cation

a positively charged ion; an ion that is attracted to the cathode during electrolysis

cation (redirected from cation-anion balance)

Properties

Characteristics and Classification of Salts

Positive and Negative Electric Charges

cation

cation

cation
(redirected from cation-anion balance)