Table of Common Cations

Illustration of zinc atoms in electrode dissolving in acid, losing electrons to form cations
Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on November 04, 2019

Cations are ions which have a positive electrical charge. A cation has fewer electrons than protons. An ion may consist of a single atom of an element (a monatomic ion or monatomic cation or anion) or of several atoms that are bonded together (a polyatomic ion or polyatomic cation or anion). Because of their net electrical charge, cations are repelled by other cations and are attracted to anions.

Three atoms
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List of Common Polyatomic Ions
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

This is a table listing the name, formula, and charge of common cations. Alternate names are given for some cations. 

Table of Common Cations

Cation Name Formula Other Name
Aluminum Al3+
Ammonium NH4+
Barium Ba2+
Calcium Ca2+
Chromium(II) Cr2+ Chromous
Chromium(III) Cr3+ Chromic
Copper(I) Cu+ Cuprous
Copper(II) Cu2+ Cupric
Iron(II) Fe2+ Ferrous
Iron(III) Fe3+ Ferric
Hydrogen H+
Hydronium H3O+ Oxonium
Lead(II) Pb2+
Lithium Li+
Magnesium Mg2+
Manganese(II) Mn2+ Manganous
Manganese(III) Mn3+ Manganic
Mercury(I) Hg22+ Mercurous
Mercury(II) Hg2+ Mercuric
Nitronium NO2+
Potassium K+
Silver Ag+
Sodium Na+
Strontium Sr2+
Tin(II) Sn2+ Stannous
Tin(IV) Sn4+ Stannic
Zinc Zn2+
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Table of Common Cations." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/common-cations-table-603962. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 26). Table of Common Cations. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/common-cations-table-603962 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Table of Common Cations." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/common-cations-table-603962 (accessed May 17, 2024).