Chemistry Mnemonics

An ion is an atom that has a charge because it has lost or gained electrons.

A cation is a positive ion. Remember: a CATion is a PAWsitive ion!

An anion is a negative ion. Remember: A Negative ION.

Created with CAST's UDL Book Builder
CAST would like to thank Texthelp Inc. for use of the SpeechStream toolbar

Remember, electrons are negative, so if an atom losses them, it becomes positive. If it gained them, it would have more negative charges than positive charges. Then it would be an anion.

Listen

I get it! Cats have paws and "paws" sounds like the first part of the word "positive." So a cation is a pawsitive ion! Anions are negative, but the word anion, a-n-i-o-n, is short for "a negative ion."

Listen

If you have trouble saying cation and anion, remember "cation" sounds like "caution" and anion sounds like "onion."

Listen

Select this then click anywhere in the book to start reading text Speak the current selection Stops speech playback Double-click a word in the book and click this icon to translate the word into Spanish