Question

What are cations?
A.Negative ions
B.Positive ions
C.Neutral ions
D.None of the above

Answer 1

We must remember that an ion is a molecule or atom which is charged. It is charged since the number of electrons in an atom or molecule does not sum to the number of protons.
We need to know that depending on whether the number of electrons in an atom is higher or lower than the number of protons in the atom, an atom may acquire a positive or negative charge.

Complete step by step answer:
As we know that an ion when a single element, or group of elements, has a charge. When an element or group of elements (compounds) loses one or more electrons, cations form. It’s called a cation when an ion is positively charged.
We must know that a cation has more protons than electrons, giving it a net positive charge as a result. One or more electrons must be lost for a cation to form, usually pulled away by atoms with a stronger affinity for them. After the chemical symbol, the number of electrons lost, and hence the charge of the ion, is indicated, e.g. silver $\left( {Ag} \right)$ loses one electron to become $A{g^ + }$ , while zinc $\left( {Zn} \right)$ loses two electrons to become $Z{n^{2 + }}$ .
Option A is incorrect because cation is not negative ions
Option B is the correct option as cation is positive ions.
Option C is incorrect because cation is not neutral ions.
And hence option B is the correct option.

Note:
We must need to know that an anion has more electrons than protons, giving it a net negative charge as a result. One or more electrons, usually pulled away from other atoms with a weaker affinity for them, must be obtained for an anion to form.
We need to know that an after the chemical symbol, for example, chlorine $\left( {Cl} \right)$ gains one electron to become $C{l^ - }$ , the amount of electrons obtained, and thus the charge of the ion, is indicated, while oxygen $\left( O \right)$ gains two electrons to become ${O^{2 - }}$ .