Question

1. how do cations form?

electrons gain or lose energy as they change orbitals.
atoms share electrons with other atoms.
atoms gain one or more valence electrons.
atoms lose one or more valence electrons.
clear all

Explanation:

Cations are positively - charged ions. Atoms form cations by losing one or more valence electrons. When an atom loses electrons, the number of protons (positive charge) in the nucleus is greater than the number of electrons (negative charge), resulting in a net positive charge.

• The first option about electrons gaining or losing energy as they change orbitals is related to atomic spectra and energy level transitions, not cation formation.
• The second option (atoms sharing electrons) is characteristic of covalent bond formation, not cation formation.
• The third option (atoms gaining electrons) would form anions (negatively - charged ions), not cations.

Answer:

Atoms lose one or more valence electrons.