EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Atoms that lose electrons acquire a positive charge as a result because they are left with fewer negatively charged electrons to balance the positive charges of the protons in the nucleus. Positively charged ions are called cations. Most metals become cations when they make ionic compounds.

Detailed explanation-2: -Cations form when an atom loses one or more electrons. The resulting cation has the electron configuration of the noble gas atom in the row above it in the periodic table.

Detailed explanation-3: -What is a cation? A cation is an ion with positive charge, which means it has more protons (positively-charged particles) than electrons (negatively-charged particles). Cations are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons: the loss of the negatively-charged electron(s) results in an overall positive charge.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cations are positively charged ions. They are formed when a metal loses its electrons. They lose one or more than one electron. It has fewer electrons than protons.

Detailed explanation-5: -Therefore, an atom that loses electrons becomes a positively-charged ion called a cation.