How Do You Spell CATIONS?

Pronunciation: [kˈata͡ɪənz] (IPA)

The word "cations" is spelled with a "c" followed by "a-t-i-o-n-s". The IPA phonetic transcription for "cations" is /ˈkætia̯nz/. The "c" is pronounced as the voiceless palatal stop, represented by the symbol /k/. The "a" is pronounced as the short vowel sound, represented by the symbol /æ/. The "t" is pronounced as the voiceless alveolar stop, represented by the symbol /t/. The "i-o-n-s" is pronounced as the diphthong /ia̯nz/. Cations are ions with positive charges.

Meaning and Definition
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Etymology
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CATIONS Meaning and Definition

  1. Cations are positively charged ions that are formed when an atom or group of atoms loses one or more electrons. These ions are typically formed from metals that have a tendency to lose electrons, as metals have low ionization energies and readily give up electrons to attain a more stable electron configuration.

    When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a cation and carries a positive charge because there are now more protons than electrons. The magnitude of the positive charge is determined by the number of electrons lost. For example, if an atom loses one electron, it becomes a singly charged cation (cation with a charge of +1), while losing two electrons would result in a doubly charged cation (cation with a charge of +2), and so on.

    Cations play a crucial role in various chemical reactions and are commonly found in ionic compounds. They are attracted to negatively charged species called anions, which are ions that have gained one or more electrons. The strong electrostatic attraction between cations and anions forms ionic bonds, which hold the compound together.

    Additionally, cations are involved in many physiological processes in living organisms. They are essential in maintaining the overall balance of electrolytes in bodily fluids, including the transmission of nerve signals and the contraction of muscles. In this context, cations like sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) are of significant importance.

Common Misspellings for CATIONS

Etymology of CATIONS

The word cations is derived from the Greek word kation, which means to go down. It comes from the Greek verb kataienai, which means to go down or to move downward. This term was initially used in the field of chemistry to refer to positively charged ions, which are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons. The term anions is the counterpart and refers to negatively charged ions, from the Greek word anion, meaning to go up or to move upward.

Similar spelling words for CATIONS

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Correct spelling for Cations
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