Multiple Choice
Which of the following best explains why the chloride ion has a -1 charge?
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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Which of the following best describes the difference between cations and anions?
A
Cations are positively charged ions, while anions are negatively charged ions.
B
Cations are negatively charged ions, while anions are positively charged ions.
C
Cations and anions are both neutral atoms.
D
Cations and anions both have no net charge.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.
Step 2: Recall that when an atom loses one or more electrons, it has more protons than electrons, giving it a positive charge. This positively charged ion is called a cation.
Step 3: Conversely, when an atom gains one or more electrons, it has more electrons than protons, resulting in a negative charge. This negatively charged ion is called an anion.
Step 4: Recognize that neutral atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons, so they have no net charge and are neither cations nor anions.
Step 5: Therefore, the key difference is that cations carry a positive charge, while anions carry a negative charge.
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