Question

Classify the cations and anions:
(i) nitride ion (ii) stannous ion (iii) ferric ion (iv) hydroxide ion

Answer 1

Firstly we should be clear that each ion has a charge. There are only two types of ions and these ions are categorized on the basis of the nature of the charge they have. The amount of the charge doesn’t matter in that case. Now we have an ion which is Hydroxide ion which is $O{H^ - }$ , it has a negative charge so it is an anion.

Complete step by step answer:
In the given question we have to find out the correction as per the nature of the element and the ion which is formed. Now by that we can categorize them as anion and the cations. This only can be done by observing the charge over the ion.
Firstly we should be aware with what are the cations and anions :
We all know that both Cations and anions are ions. Now the basic difference between the two of them is the net electrical charge of the ion. Cations have positive whereas anions have negative charge. Now regarding the basic definition of the ions are atoms or molecules which have gained or lost one or more valence electrons.
(i) The Nitride ions have the chemical formula of ${N^{3 - }}$ . Since it is a negatively charged ion, it is an anion.
(ii) Stannous ions have the chemical formula of $S{n^{2 + }}$ . Since it is a positively charged ion, hence it is a cation.
(iii) Ferric ions have the chemical formula of $F{e^{3 + }}$. Since it is a positively charged ion, hence it is a cation.
(iv) Hydroxide ions have the chemical formula of $O{H^ - }$. Since it is a negatively charged ion, it is an anion.

Note: The word ion comes from the Greek word ἰόν, ion, "going", the present participle of ἰέναι, ienai, "to go". This term was introduced (after a suggestion by the English polymath William Whewell by English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday in $1834$ for the then-unknown species that goes from one electrode to the other through an aqueous medium.