How does an atom become a cation?

Answer 1

Metal atoms form ions by losing valence electrons.

Answer 2

A metal atom has an extra electron so it will lose that electron to look like the Noble Gas that comes before it on the Periodic Table. It will become a smaller metal ion, known as a cation because it is positively charged.

A nonmetal atom will do it opposite. It NEEDS and electron to look like the Noble Gas that comes AFTER it on the Periodic Table (this is known as the Octet Rule, btw). Therefore, it will GAIN an electron, to become a larger nonmetal ion known as an anion because it is negatively charged.

Answer 3

An atom becomes a cation when it loses an electron. Because it loses a particle with a negative charge, a cation has a positive charge. For instance, when sodium and chlorine react, sodium loses an electron to chlorine to become a sodium ion.

Answer 4

An atom becomes a cation by losing one or more electrons, resulting in a positively charged ion. This loss of electrons can occur through interactions with other atoms, such as in chemical reactions or when an atom is in an environment that promotes electron loss.

Answer 5

The metal must lose from two to three electrons to form a cation.

Answer 6

It needs to have a possitive charge (cations are possitively charged), so it has to loose some valance electrons.

Answer 7

A non metal must gain one or two electrons to form an anion