Where is a cation found in a formula?

Answer 1

The standard formula for writing chemical compounds is to list the cation (or more positive, in the case of two or more non-metals binding) first, and to list the anion (or more negative) second. For example, NaCl (sodium chloride, table salt) lists the cation (Na+) first and the anion (Cl-) second. For non-metals, a good example is carbon dioxide (CO2) - although covalently bonded, the carbon tends to maintain a slight positive charge and the oxygens tend to maintain a slight negative charge.

Answer 2

A cation is found in a chemical formula when an atom loses one or more electrons, giving it a positive charge. Cations are often found in ionic compounds with anions (negatively charged ions) to balance the overall charge of the compound.