What are cations?

Cations are defined as positively charged ions that occur when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons. This loss of electrons results in a net positive charge because the number of protons (positively charged) in the nucleus exceeds the number of electrons (negatively charged) surrounding it. In various contexts, such as water chemistry, the presence of cations is critical since they play essential roles in processes like ionic bonding, electrical conductivity, and the overall ionic balance in solutions.

The other choices are not accurate definitions of cations. Neutral particles would refer to substances that have no charge, which directly contrasts with the definition of cations. Negative ions, known as anions, result from atoms or molecules gaining electrons, and organic molecules typically refer to carbon-containing compounds that can be either ionic or covalent in nature but do not specifically represent charged ions. Thus, cations stand distinctly as positive ions in the realm of chemistry.