What is the term for an ion with a positive charge?

An ion with a positive charge is referred to as a cation. This is because a cation forms when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive charge due to the surplus of protons compared to electrons. For example, when a sodium atom loses an electron, it becomes a sodium cation (Na⁺).

In contrast, an anion is an ion that carries a negative charge, created when an atom gains one or more electrons. Radicals refer to species containing unpaired electrons, which can exist as both charged or neutral entities and do not have a defined charge associated with them. A neutrino, on the other hand, is a very light, neutral subatomic particle that does not fit within the classification of ions at all. Thus, the term cation accurately describes a positively charged ion in the context of thermochemistry and ionization processes.