Cation
/ˈkæt.aɪ.ən/noun
A positively charged ion.
Did you know?The term was coined by Michael Faraday in 1834 from Greek roots for “down” and “going,” because cations migrate toward the cathode during electrolysis.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
katá
“down, downward”
Ancient Greek
Greek
iōn
“going, moving”
1834
English
cation
“Faraday’s term for an ion that moves toward the cathode in electrolysis”
Modern English
English
cation
“a positively charged ion”