Difference between a cation and an anion?

Answer 1

An ion is an atom containing less or more electrons than protons. Electrons are negatively charged so an extra electron would make the atom negatively charged, where as an atom missing an electron would be positively charged.

An ion can be a cation or an anion.

A cation is the specific form of ion that is missing 1 or more electrons and results in a positively charged atom.

An anion is the specific form of ion that contains 1 or more extra electrons and results in a negatively charged atom.

Answer 2

Neither cations nor anions are atoms. They are types of ions. An ion is a charged atom, because of a loss or gain of electrons. A cation is a positively charged ion, while an anion is the opposite, a negatively charged ion.

Answer 3

Anions have negative charges (extra electrons). Most polyatomic ions and nonmetallic ions are anions.

Cations have positive charges (lacking electrons). All ionic metals are naturally cations.

Answer 4

A cation has a positive charge and has lost electrons. An anion has a negative charge and has gained electrons.

Answer 5

Cations are ions with a positive charge and anions are ions with a negative charge

Answer 6

A cation is positively charged and an anion negatively.

Answer 7

A Cation is a positively charged object (electrical cable, atom, etc.) and an Anion is a negatively charged object.