Which ion is cation?
A Phosphate
B Sulfate
C Sodium
D Chloride
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C: Sodium.
Explanation:
Ions are atoms or molecules that carry an electric charge due to the loss or gain of electrons. There are two main types of ions: cations and anions. Cations are positively charged ions, which means they have lost one or more electrons. Anions are negatively charged ions, meaning they have gained one or more electrons.
Phosphate (PO4^3-) is an anion because it carries a negative charge of three. It has gained electrons, making it negatively charged.
Sulfate (SO4^2-) is also an anion. It carries a negative charge of two and has gained electrons.
Chloride (Cl^-) is another anion with a single negative charge.
Sodium (Na^+) is a cation. It has lost one electron, which gives it a positive charge of one. Sodium is a metal from the alkali metals group in the periodic table, and it commonly forms cations in chemical reactions. Sodium ions are essential in many biological processes, such as nerve impulse transmission and fluid balance in the body.
Thus, among the options given, sodium is the only cation because it carries a positive charge. The other three ions (phosphate, sulfate, and chloride) are all negatively charged anions.
In summary, cations have positive charges due to electron loss, and sodium fits this definition. Phosphate, sulfate, and chloride are anions because of their negative charges. This distinction is important in chemistry and biology for understanding how ions interact, form compounds, and participate in various chemical and physiological processes.