Given that metals lose electrons, write the symbol for the most common cation for each of the following.

a) Cs

b) Fe

c) Ba

Answers

a) Cs is in Group IA and will lose one electron to form Cs⁺.

b) Fe is a transition metal and will lose two or three electrons to form Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺.

c) Ba is in Group IIA and will lose two electrons to form Ba²⁺.