Difference between cations and anions (with examples)

A cation is an ion that is positively charged and an anion is a negatively charged ion. Both cations and anions are ion types. An ion is an atom or group of atoms that have an electric charge, that is, they have a difference between the number of protons and the number of electrons that make it up.

Difference	Cations	Anions
Definition	Positively charged ion	Negatively charged ion
Training	It is formed by loss of electrons	It is formed by gaining electrons
Load	Positive charge	Negative charge
Types of ions	Mono-atomic cations Polyatomic cations Mono-valent cations Divalent cations Trivalent cations	Mono-atomic anions Polyatomic anions Monovalent anions Divalent anions Trivalent anions
Examples	Sodium ion: Na+ Potassium ion: K+ Calcium ion: Ca2+ Silver ion: Ag+ ammonium ion: NH4+	Chloride ion: Cl- Oxygen ion: O2- Sulfide ion: S2- Sulfate ion: SO42- Hydroxyl ion: OH-

What is an anion?

An anion in chemistry is defined as an ion that is negatively charged because it has excess electrons.

How is an anion formed?

An anion is formed when it gains electrons, that is, it gains one or more negative charges.

Examples of most common anions

We present you a list of the different types of anions.

Monovalent monatomic anions: ions of a single atom with a negative charge

• Cl chloride anion^-
• Fluoride anion F^-
• Bromide anion Br^-
• Iodide anion I^-
• Hydride anion H^-

Divalent monatomic anions: ions of a single atom with two negative charges

• Sulfide anion S^2-
• Oxide anion O^2-

Trivalent monatomic anions: ions of a single atom with three negative charges

• Nitride anion N^3-
• Phosphide anion P^3-
• Arsenide anion As^3-

Polyatomic anions: ions of two or more atoms

• Peroxide anion O₂^2-
• Arsenate anion AsO₄^3-
• Borate anion BO₃^3-
• Bromate anion BrO₃^-
• Carbonate anion CO₃^2-
• HCO bicarbonate anion₃^-
• ClO hypochlorite anion^-
• Chlorite anion ClO₂^-
• Chlorate anion ClO₃^-
• ClO perchlorate anion₄^-
• CN cyanide anion^-
• NH amide anion₂^-
• Cyanate anion OCN^-
• SCN thiocyanate anion^-
• OH hydroxide anion^-
• Permanganate anion MnO₄^-
• Sulfate anion SO₄^2-
• Sulfite anion SO₃^2-
• Nitrate anion NO₃^-
• Nitrite anion NO₂^-
• Phosphate anion PO₄^3-
• Acetate anion C₂H₃OR₂^-
• Thiosulfate anion S₂OR₃^2-

What is a cation?

A cation in chemistry is defined as an ion that is positively charged because it lost electrons from its outermost shell.

How is a cation formed?

Cations are formed when they lose one or more electrons from their valence shell.

Examples of the most common cations

We present you a list of different types of cations.

Monovalent monatomic cations: ions of a single atom with a positive charge

• Lithium Li cation⁺
• Na sodium cation⁺
• Potassium K cation⁺
• Silver cation Ag⁺
• Copper (I) Cu cation⁺

Divalent monatomic cations: ions of a single atom with two positive charges

• Beryllium cation Be²⁺
• Calcium cation Ca²⁺
• Magnesium cation Mg²⁺
• Strontium cation Sr²⁺
• Barium cation Ba Ba²⁺
• Zinc Zn cation²⁺
• Chromium (II) Cr cation²⁺
• Manganese (II) cation Mn²⁺
• Iron (II) Fe cation²⁺
• Cobalt (II) Co cation²⁺
• Copper (II) Cu cation²⁺
• Lead (II) Pb cation²⁺

Trivalent monatomic cations: ions of a single atom with three positive charges

• Aluminum cation Al³⁺
• Chromium (III) Cr cation³⁺
• Manganese cation (III) Mn³⁺
• Cation iron (III) Fe³⁺
• Cobalt (III) Co cation³⁺

Polyatomic cations: ions of two or more positively charged atoms

• Cation mercury (I) Hg₂²⁺
• NH ammonium cation₄⁺
• Hydronium cation H₃OR⁺

You may be interested in seeing:

• Atoms and molecules.
• Differences between acids and bases.
• The types of chemical bonds.
• Protons, neutrons, and electrons

Doctor in Biochemistry from the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC), with a degree in Bioanalysis from the Central University of Venezuela.