Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following ions is a cation?
A
Cl^-
B
Na^+
C
NO_3^-
D
SO_4^{2-}
Verified step by step guidance
1
Recall that a cation is a positively charged ion, while an anion is a negatively charged ion.
Look at the charge indicated on each ion: Cl^- has a negative charge, NO_3^- has a negative charge, SO_4^{2-} has a negative charge, and Na^+ has a positive charge.
Identify which ion has a positive charge; this ion is the cation.
Since Na^+ has a positive charge, it is the cation among the given ions.
Therefore, the ion Na^+ is the correct answer as the cation.