When to use it
Use it when reading an ionic formula to quickly recall that the cation is the positively charged ion written first.
Example
In NaCl, Na⁺ is the cation (positive) and Cl⁻ is the anion (negative).
Common mistake
Confusing cation with anion. Cation sounds like it starts with a c like a cat's claw reaching upward toward positive, while anion sounds like annoy and carries a negative charge.
