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⁺ : cesium is in Group IA and will lose one electron.

b) Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺: iron is a transition metal and can lose two or three electrons.

c) Ba²⁺: barium is in Group IIA and will lose two electrons.