What are metal ions also known as?

Metal ions are commonly referred to as cations. This is because metal atoms tend to lose one or more electrons to achieve a positive charge, which classifies them as cations. The process involves metals having a few electrons in their outer shell, and when these are lost, they become positively charged ions.

Cations are different from anions, which are negatively charged ions that form when nonmetals gain electrons. Molecules consist of two or more atoms bonded together, which can include both metals and nonmetals, but do not specifically refer to metal ions alone. Electrons are subatomic particles that carry a negative charge and play a crucial role in the formation of ions but are not themselves classified as ions. Thus, the terminology surrounding metal ions accurately aligns with their behavior in terms of electron loss and positive charge, making "cations" the appropriate term.