Question

cations can be formed by ______ electrons.
a gaining
b losing
c sharing
d none of the above

Explanation:

Cations are positively - charged ions. Atoms are neutral with equal numbers of protons and electrons. When an atom loses electrons, the number of protons (positive charge) exceeds the number of electrons (negative charge), resulting in a positive charge. For example, a sodium atom (\(Na\)) has 11 protons and 11 electrons. When it loses one electron, it has 11 protons and 10 electrons, becoming a \(Na^{+}\) cation. Gaining electrons would form anions (negatively - charged ions), and sharing electrons is related to covalent bonding, not ion formation.

Answer:

B. Losing