Question

A cation contains more protons than electrons.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A True

Cation:

1. A neutral atom contains an equal number of protons and electrons.
2. When a neutral atom loses one or more electrons to attain stability then a positively charged ion i.e. cation is formed.
3. As a result, the number of electrons become less than the number of protons.
4. Thus, the cation contains more protons than electrons.

Example:

1. Consider a Sodium atom $\mathbf{\left(}\mathbf{Na}\mathbf{\right)}$ having atomic number $11$. Thus, the number of electrons in a Sodium atom are $11$ and the number of protons is $11$.
2. The electronic configuration of Sodium is $(2,8,1)$.
3. In order to acquire eight electrons in the outermost shell, Sodium atom loses $1$ electron from the outermost shell.
4. Thus, Sodium ion $\left({\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\right)$ i.e. cation is formed.
5. Sodium ion has $10$ electrons and $11$ protons.
6. Thus, the number of protons is more than the number of electrons.

Hence, the given statement is true.