Questions on Cations and Anions
Multiple-Choice Questions: Cations and Anions
🔹 Basic Concepts
1. What is a cation?
A) A neutral atom
B) An atom that gains electrons
C) An atom that loses electrons
D) A molecule with a positive and negative side
E) A negatively charged ion
2. What is an anion?
A) A positively charged ion
B) A neutral particle
C) A molecule with polar bonds
D) A negatively charged ion
E) An atom that loses protons
3. Cations are formed when an atom:
A) Gains electrons
B) Loses protons
C) Loses electrons
D) Gains neutrons
E) Shares electrons
4. Which of the following is a cation?
A) Cl⁻
B) O²⁻
C) Na⁺
D) N³⁻
E) F⁻
5. Which of the following is an anion?
A) Ca²⁺
B) Al³⁺
C) Li⁺
D) S²⁻
E) Mg²⁺
🔹 Identifying Ions
6. The charge on a calcium ion (Ca) is:
A) +1
B) +2
C) -1
D) -2
E) 0
7. Which of the following elements commonly forms a -1 anion?
A) Sodium
B) Magnesium
C) Chlorine
D) Aluminum
E) Calcium
8. What is the charge of an oxide ion?
A) -1
B) +2
C) -2
D) +1
E) 0
9. Which ion is formed by nitrogen?
A) N⁻
B) N⁺
C) N²⁺
D) N³⁻
E) N²⁻
10. Which of these ions is NOT correctly matched to its charge?
A) Na⁺ — +1
B) Cl⁻ — -1
C) O²⁻ — -2
D) Mg²⁺ — +1
E) Al³⁺ — +3
🔹 Periodic Table Patterns
11. Which group in the periodic table forms cations most easily?
A) Group 1 (alkali metals)
B) Group 17 (halogens)
C) Group 18 (noble gases)
D) Group 16 (oxygen group)
E) Group 14 (carbon group)
12. Halogens usually form ions with what charge?
A) +2
B) -1
C) +1
D) -2
E) 0
13. Metals generally form:
A) Anions
B) Covalent bonds only
C) Cations
D) Hydrogen bonds
E) Neutral atoms
14. Nonmetals tend to form:
A) Cations
B) No ions at all
C) Ionic solids
D) Anions
E) Positive molecules
15. Which of the following elements is most likely to form a +3 cation?
A) Sodium
B) Calcium
C) Chlorine
D) Aluminum
E) Oxygen
🔹 Naming and Notation
16. Which of these ions is written correctly?
A) Na⁻
B) Cl⁺
C) Ca⁺
D) Fe²⁺
E) O⁺
17. How is a potassium ion written?
A) K
B) K⁻
C) K⁺
D) K²⁻
E) K²⁺
18. How is a fluoride ion written?
A) F⁺
B) F
C) F⁻
D) F₂⁻
E) F₃⁻
19. What is the name of the ion O²⁻?
A) Oxygen ion
B) Oxide ion
C) Dioxide ion
D) Oxygenide ion
E) Oxyion
20. The ion Cl⁻ is called:
A) Chlorate
B) Chloride
C) Chlorine ion
D) Hypochlorite
E) Chloronium
🔹 Ionic Compounds and Behavior
21. In ionic compounds, cations are typically from:
A) Nonmetals
B) Metalloids
C) Metals
D) Gases
E) Organic molecules
22. In ionic compounds, anions are usually:
A) Metals
B) Noble gases
C) Positive ions
D) Nonmetals
E) Water molecules
23. Which of the following compounds contains both a cation and an anion?
A) NaCl
B) O₂
C) H₂O
D) CH₄
E) CO₂
24. Which of these substances is formed by ionic bonding?
A) Cl₂
B) CO
C) NaBr
D) HCl
E) NH₃
25. What happens to the size of an atom when it becomes a cation?
A) Increases
B) Stays the same
C) Doubles
D) Decreases
E) Becomes unstable
🔹 Advanced Application
26. A Cu²⁺ ion has:
A) Gained 2 electrons
B) Lost 2 electrons
C) Gained 2 protons
D) Lost 2 protons
E) Gained 2 neutrons
27. Which is the correct name for Mg²⁺?
A) Magnesium ion
B) Manganese ion
C) Magnesium(II)
D) Magnesiumite
E) Magneside
28. Which ion is common in table salt?
A) K⁺
B) Na⁺
C) Cl⁺
D) Mg²⁺
E) Br⁻
29. Which of the following ions is polyatomic?
A) Na⁺
B) O²⁻
C) SO₄²⁻
D) K⁺
E) F⁻
30. What is the overall charge of a neutral ionic compound?
A) +1
B) -1
C) 0
D) +2
E) Depends on the ions
Answers with Explanations
1. C – A cation forms when an atom loses electrons and becomes positively charged.
2. D – An anion is negatively charged due to gaining electrons.
3. C – Loss of electrons forms a positive ion (cation).
4. C – Na⁺ is a positively charged sodium ion (cation).
5. D – S²⁻ is a sulfur ion that has gained 2 electrons.
6. B – Calcium forms Ca²⁺ by losing 2 electrons.
7. C – Chlorine (Cl) typically forms Cl⁻.
8. C – Oxide (O²⁻) is formed when oxygen gains 2 electrons.
9. D – Nitrogen forms N³⁻ by gaining 3 electrons.
10. D – Mg²⁺ is +2, not +1.
11. A – Group 1 elements (alkali metals) lose 1 electron to form cations.
12. B – Halogens form -1 anions.
13. C – Metals tend to lose electrons → cations.
14. D – Nonmetals gain electrons → anions.
15. D – Aluminum typically forms Al³⁺.
16. D – Fe²⁺ is correct (iron(II)).
17. C – Potassium ion is K⁺.
18. C – Fluoride ion is F⁻.
19. B – O²⁻ is called oxide.
20. B – Cl⁻ is the chloride ion.
21. C – Cations are usually metal atoms.
22. D – Anions are nonmetal atoms.
23. A – Na⁺ + Cl⁻ = NaCl, an ionic compound.
24. C – NaBr is an ionic compound.
25. D – Cations are smaller than their neutral atoms.
26. B – Cu²⁺ has lost 2 electrons.
27. A – Mg²⁺ is the magnesium ion.
28. B – Table salt = NaCl (Na⁺ and Cl⁻).
29. C – SO₄²⁻ is a polyatomic ion (sulfate).
30. C – Ionic compounds are neutral overall (total charge = 0).
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