Cations and anions are two types of ions that play essential roles in chemistry and various biological processes.
Cations are positively charged ions. This positive charge occurs when an atom loses one or more electrons, which are negatively charged. A common example of a cation is the sodium ion (Na+), which forms when a sodium atom loses one electron. Another example is calcium (Ca2+), which loses two electrons to achieve a positive charge.
Anions, on the other hand, are negatively charged ions. These are formed when an atom gains one or more electrons. For instance, chloride (Cl–) is an example of an anion; it forms when a chlorine atom gains an electron. Another example is sulfate (SO42-), which is a polyatomic anion consisting of sulfur and oxygen atoms.
In summary, cations are positively charged due to the loss of electrons, while anions are negatively charged due to the gain of electrons. Understanding these ions is fundamental to grasping concepts in chemistry, such as electrical charge balance in compounds and the behavior of substances in solutions.