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Question
What is the difference between a cation and an anion? How are they formed? Give the names and symbols of one cation and one anion.
Solution
| Cation | Anion |
| The ion that is positively charged or that loses its electrons is known as a cation. | The ion that is positively charged or that gains electrons is known as an anion. |
Cations are formed when an atom donates its electrons to another atom to attain the noble gas configuration and become stable.
Anions are formed when an atom gains electrons from another atom to complete its outermost shell or attain the noble gas configuration and become stable.
An example of a cation is a sodium ion (Na+) that is formed by losing one electron.
An example of an anion is a chloride ion (Cl-) that is formed by gaining one electron.
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