This page explains cations, positively charged ions produced when elements lose electrons. It connects the Gold Rush to gold's unreactiveness, which facilitated extraction, while most elements form re...This page explains cations, positively charged ions produced when elements lose electrons. It connects the Gold Rush to gold's unreactiveness, which facilitated extraction, while most elements form reactive ions. Cations from groups 1 and 2 of the periodic table are named after their parent elements with a charge indicated by a superscript. The text emphasizes cations' significance in everyday life, including their functions in the body and uses in water softening and food preservation.
