What are metal ions also known as?

Metal ions are known as cations because they are positively charged ions formed when metal atoms lose one or more electrons during chemical reactions. This occurs due to the relatively low number of electrons in their outer shell, typically resulting in a stable electronic configuration.

Cations play a crucial role in various chemical processes, including the conduction of electricity in metals and in electrolyte solutions. In contrast, anions are negatively charged ions that typically form from nonmetals gaining electrons. Atoms are the basic units of matter and do not specifically refer to ions, while molecules consist of two or more atoms bonded together, which does not pertain directly to the term 'metal ions'.