When an atom loses its valence electrons and gains one or more extra electrons from another neutral atom, it undergoes a process called ionization, resulting in the formation of positively charged ions known as cations.
Here's a breakdown of what happens during this process:
Loss of valence electrons: Valence electrons are the electrons present in the outermost energy level (valence shell) of an atom. These electrons are involved in chemical bonding. When an atom loses one or more valence electrons, typically through interactions with other atoms or external forces, it becomes positively charged.
Formation of a cation: The atom that loses electrons becomes a cation. Since electrons carry negative charge, the loss of electrons results in a net positive charge on the atom. The magnitude of the positive charge depends on the number of electrons lost.
Electron transfer: The lost electrons are gained by another neutral atom, which becomes negatively charged. This negatively charged atom is called an anion. The electron transfer occurs due to the attraction between the positively charged cation and the negatively charged anion.
Ionic bond formation: The positively charged cations and negatively charged anions are held together by electrostatic forces, forming an ionic bond. Ionic bonds are strong attractions between oppositely charged ions. These bonds are often found in ionic compounds, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), where sodium (Na) donates an electron to chlorine (Cl), resulting in the formation of Na+ cations and Cl- anions.
Overall, the formation of cations through the loss and gain of electrons leads to the creation of charged particles with different properties and chemical reactivity compared to their neutral counterparts. Cations play important roles in various chemical reactions, electrical conductivity, and the overall behavior of substances.