An element can become a cation by loosing electrons and an anion by gaining electrons.
For example:-
Na(Sodium) atom has 11 electrons whereas its cation Na+ has 10 electrons.
Cl(chlorine) atom has 17 electrons but its anion Cl- has 18 electrons.
The element will form a cation or anion will be decided by the no. of electrons in its outermost shell.
Metals generally form cations and non-metals generally form anions.
However, some elements like carbon do not form ions at all and form their bonds by sharing electrons.
A cation is an atom that has lost one or more electrons. An anion is an atom that has gained one or more electrons.
Silver is normally not a cation or an anion, it is an element. Once it becomes an ion however, it will become a CATION with a +1 charge (Ag^+).
An ion becomes a cation when it loses one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive charge. This loss of electrons creates an imbalance between the number of protons and electrons in the ion, causing it to become positively charged.
Calcium cation is Ca2+ and oxygen anion is O2-.
Compounds containing metals and nonmetals are called ionic compounds. In these compounds, the metal atom loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, while the nonmetal atom gains electrons to become a negatively charged anion. The resulting electrostatic attraction between the cation and anion holds the compound together.
An atom of potassium is most likely to become a cation. Potassium tends to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming a positively charged ion.
A cation is an atom that has lost one or more electrons. An anion is an atom that has gained one or more electrons.
If a neutral atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion (anion). If it loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation).
Generically an "ion", specifically gained an electron an "anion", lost and electron a "cation".
An atom that has become charged is called an ion. It can be positively charged (cation) if it has lost electrons, or negatively charged (anion) if it has gained electrons.
Sodium becomes a cation and chlorine becomes an anion.
A charged atom is an ion. A positively charged version is a cation and a negatively charged one, an anion.
Ions. And they can also be called anion or cation depending on their charges. An anion is a negative ion, a cation is a positive ion.
Silver is normally not a cation or an anion, it is an element. Once it becomes an ion however, it will become a CATION with a +1 charge (Ag^+).
Atoms that have lost or gained one or more electrons are called ions.An atom that has gained and electron is an anion; and atom that has lost an electron is a cation. Gaining an electron means the anion has a negative charge; losing one or more electrons means the atom has a positive charge.
In general, an atom with a charge, either positive or negative, is called an ion.A positively charged atom is called a cation and a negatively charged atom is an anion.
It's an ion. Cation for positive and anion for a negative atom