Question

Identify the cations and anions in the following compounds
(A) Auric chloride
(B) Ammonium sulphate
(C) Potassium permanganate
(D) Sodium Thiosulphate

Answer 1

A cation has more protons than electrons consequently giving it a net positive charge whereas an anion has more electrons than protons and thus consequently giving it a net negative charge.

Complete step by step solution:
The identification of cations and anions is as shown:
Auric chloride:AuC{l_3}$$$$$ Cation is A{u^{ + 3}}$
Anion is chloride ion

Ammonium sulphate ${[{(NH)_4}]_2}S{O_3}$
Cation is $N{H_4}$
Anion is permanganate and sulphate ion

Potassium permanganate $KMn{O_4}$
Cation is potassium ${K^ + }$
Anion is permanganate ion

Sodium Thiosulphate:$N{a_2}{S_2}{O_3}$
Cation is $N{a^ + }$

Note: Sometimes, you can predict whether an atom will form a cation or anion based on its position on the periodic table. Alkali metals and alkaline earth metals always form cations. However, halogens always form anions. Most other non-metals typically form anions (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur), while most metals form cations (e.g. iron, gold, mercury).