Question

Which of the following is not a cation?

Iron (III) ion
sulfate
Ca²⁺
Mercurous ion

Answer 1

Sulfate is an anion, not a cation.

Hope this helps! :)

Answer 2

Answer: Option (b) is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a neutral element loses an electron then it acquires a positive charge and it is known as a cation.

For example, when a neutral iron atom loses three electrons then it forms a
`Fe^(3+)` ion.

On the other hand, when a neutral element gains an electron then it acquires a negative charge and it is known as a anion.

For example, a sulfate ion means
`SO^(2-)_(4)` ion.

Thus, we can conclude that out of the given options sulfate is not a cation.