Home
/
Chemistry
/
A cation is another word for: . A metal atom A positive ion Anonmetal atom A negative ion

Question

A cation is another word for: .
A metal atom
A positive ion
Anonmetal atom
A negative ion

A cation is another word for: . A metal atom A positive ion Anonmetal atom A negative ion

expert verifiedVerification of experts

Answer

4.6263 Voting
avatar
PatsyElite · Tutor for 8 years

Answer

<p> B. A positive ion.</p>

Explain

<p> The term "cation" within chemistry refers to ions which carry a positive charge. This charge is created when an atom, which normally carries no overall charge in a neutral state, loses one or more of its electrons. The charges occur due to an imbalance as the protons within an atom's nucleus carrying a positive charge outnumber the electrons, which carry a negative charge. The description provided in the options sheds light on the correct choice. Debugging between atoms and ions, atoms are the smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of the element while ions are charged particles that can be negatively or positively charged. Ions arise when atoms either lose or gain electrons. A negatively charged ion (an anion occurs) volleys from gaining electrons. Alternately a positively charged ion, (or cation), volleys from an atom losing electrons. Thusly deduced, the word "cation" does not refer to both a metal atom or a non-metal atom as atoms aren't characteristically charged. Subsequently an option describing negativity, a negative ion, is also incompatible with the terminus "cation" given it represents positivity. Hence, considering the definitions and straightforward descriptions layouts within the options leaves us with a just single, unequivocally precise preference which divulges to be a positive ion , in solidarity with the definition prescribed to the term "cation".</p>
Click to rate:

Hot Questions

More x