Question

A cation is formed when an atom ___________ one or more __________

• A. loses
• B. electron

Answer 1

• An atom is electrically neutral because it contains an equal number of electrons and protons. Whenever an atom loses or gains one or more electrons, it gets electrically charged.
• The electrically charged particle formed whenever an atom loses or gains electrons is called an ion.
• Whenever an atom loses one or more electrons, a positively charged ion is formed. The positively charged ion is called cation.
• For example, when a sodium atom $\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$loses an electron, it gives a sodium ion${\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)}^{+}$

Therefore, a cation is formed when an atom loses one or more electrons.