cation

American  

[kat-ahy-uhn, -on] / ˈkætˌaɪ ən, -ɒn /

Or kation

noun

Physical Chemistry.

1. a positively charged ion that is attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.

2. any positively charged atom or group of atoms (opposed to anion).

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cation British  

/ ˈkætaɪən, ˌkætaɪˈɒnɪk /

noun

1. a positively charged ion; an ion that is attracted to the cathode during electrolysis Compare anion

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cation Scientific  

/ kăt′ī′ən /

1. An ion with net positive charge, having more protons than electrons. In electrolysis, cations migrate to a negatively charged cathode.

2. Compare anion

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Other Word Forms

• cationic
  adjective
• cationically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cation

1825–35; < Greek katión going down (neuter of katiṓn, present participle of kateînai ), equivalent to kat- cat- ( def. ) + -i- go + -on neuter present participle suffix

Explanation

In science, a cation is an ion, or charged particle, with a positive charge. In other words, a cation has more protons than electrons. If you come across the word ion in a chemistry or physics class, cation and anion won't be far behind. An ion is a particle that has an electrical charge. When an ion's charge is negative, it's more specifically called an anion, and when it's positive, you can use the term cation. The Greek source is kation, which means "going down."

Example Sentences

Even with the medical screening, Mr. Cation and the ship’s senior enlisted sailor, Command Master Chief Stanley Jewett, admitted to living nervously while the guests are aboard.

From New York Times • Feb. 27, 2012

“There were parents yesterday sleeping on the mess decks because they were so worn out,” said Chris Cation, the civilian who organized the cruise.

From New York Times • Feb. 27, 2012

The terms Anion and Cation, which he applied to the constituents of the decomposed electrolyte, and the term Ion, which included both anions and cations, are still less frequently employed.

From Faraday as a Discoverer by Tyndall, John

Ion, ī′on, n. one of the components into which an electrolyte is broken up on electrolysis—the Anion, the electro-negative component, chemically attacking the anode, and the Cation, the electro-positive component, the cathode.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various