Cation: What is a cation

What is a cation? A cation has more protons than electrons , consequently giving it a net positive charge. For a cation to form, one or more electrons must be lost, typically pulled away by atoms with a stronger affinity for them. Cations and anions are both ions, but they differ based on their net electrical charge; cations are positive, while anions are negative. Learn what cations and anions are, how they are formed, and how they are named. Find out the periodic table trends and the mnemonics to remember their charges. A cation is something that moves down (Greek: κάτω, kato, meaning "down") and an anion is something that moves up (Greek: ἄνω, ano, meaning "up"). They are so called because ions move toward the electrode of opposite charge.