Which term describes an ion with a positive charge?

Master chemistry for the PCC Competency Exam with this quiz. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Excel in your test!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes an ion with a positive charge?

Explanation:
A positive-charged ion is called a cation. This happens when an atom loses one or more electrons, leaving more protons than electrons and giving the ion an overall positive charge. For example, Na+ or Al3+ are cations. Anions are the opposite: negatively charged ions formed when atoms gain electrons, such as Cl−. An ionic compound is a substance made of a lattice of cations and anions together, not a single ion. A physical property is a trait like color or melting point, not an ion’s charge. So the term that describes an ion with a positive charge is cation.

A positive-charged ion is called a cation. This happens when an atom loses one or more electrons, leaving more protons than electrons and giving the ion an overall positive charge. For example, Na+ or Al3+ are cations.

Anions are the opposite: negatively charged ions formed when atoms gain electrons, such as Cl−. An ionic compound is a substance made of a lattice of cations and anions together, not a single ion. A physical property is a trait like color or melting point, not an ion’s charge.

So the term that describes an ion with a positive charge is cation.

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