What is the difference between Cation and Anion?

A cation is a positively charged ion formed when the total number of electrons in an atom lowers than that of the proton. This is usually formed when an atom loses one or more electrons in its outermost shell, usually during chemical bonding. The implication of this is that there will be a reduction in the number of electrons, thereby making the total number of protons to be higher than that of electrons.

For instance, the sodium atom has 11 protons and 11 electrons. During ionic bonding, it loses one electron to another atom. As a result of this, sodium becomes a positively charged ion. On the other hand, an anion is a negatively charged ion formed when the total number of electrons in an atom is higher than that of the proton. This is usually formed when an atom gains one or more electrons during chemical bonding. As a result, such an atom now contains more electrons than protons.

In an atom, there is a nucleus comprising protons and neutrons. The protons have a positive charge, while neutrons are neural with no charge. This position renders the charge of the nucleus positive. The electrons revolving around the nucleus in their specific orbital have a negative charge. The protons and electrons atom contains an equal number of the two to stabilize both charges and create a balanced entity. An ion with a positive charge on it is a cation. This positive charge is established because the number of electrons is lower.

The number of electrons decreases in the charge of the positive protons. This change renders the atom a cation. While a cation contains a net positive charge, an anion is an ion that holds a net negative charge. This charge is because, in an anion, there is the accumulation of electrons in the valence shell. This variance means that the number of electrons that carry a negative charge becomes more than the number of protons.