what is a cation in chemistry

In chemistry, a cation is an ion that has a positive charge. It is formed when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive charge. The number of electrons lost and the charge of the ion is indicated after the chemical symbol, for example, silver (Ag) loses one electron to become Ag+, while zinc (Zn) loses two electrons to become Zn2+. Cations are attracted to the cathode (negative electrode) and are formed by metal atoms. Some examples of cations include sodium (Na+), iron (Fe2+), and ammonium (NH4+). It is possible to predict whether an atom will form a cation or an anion based on its position on the periodic table. Halogens always form anions, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals always form cations, while most other metals form cations and most other nonmetals typically form anions.