what is cation

A cation is an ion that has a net positive charge because it has lost one or more electrons, giving it more protons than electrons. Cations are formed when a balanced atom loses one or more electrons, typically pulled away by atoms with a stronger affinity for them. The number of electrons lost, and so 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+ . Some examples of cations are Calcium (Ca2+), Potassium (K+), and hydrogen (H+) . Cations are attracted to the cathode (negative electrode) .