electropositive
/i'lektrou'pɔzətiv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having a positive electric charge: Describes an atom, ion, or particle that carries a net positive electrical charge, typically due to having more protons than electrons.
- Tending to lose electrons and form positive ions: Describes elements, typically metals, that have a low electronegativity and readily donate electrons in chemical reactions.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- In a salt solution, the electropositive sodium ions are attracted to the negative electrode.
- Metals like potassium are highly electropositive, meaning they react vigorously with water.
Advanced Usage
- In Chemistry: The term is often used to describe an element's position on the periodic table or its behavior in ionic bonding.
- The electropositive character of elements increases down a group in the periodic table.
- In Physics: Used to describe the charge state of a particle or region.
- The electropositive terminal of the battery is called the anode.
Variants and Related Words
- Electropositivity (noun): The measure of an element's tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions.
- The electropositivity of cesium is greater than that of sodium.
- Cation (noun): A positively charged ion, which is the result of an electropositive atom losing electrons.
- Common cations include Na⁺ and Ca²⁺.
Synonyms
- Positive (in the context of electric charge).
- Cationic (relating to or being a cation).
Antonyms
- Electronegative: Having a tendency to attract electrons and form negative ions.
- Negative (in the context of electric charge).
- Anionic (relating to or being an anion).
Adjective
- having a positive charge
- protons are positive