CATION

EPMA Xtreme Probe

CATION

The metal component of a chemical compound. For example, in the compound SiO2 the Si or silicon is the metal or cation and the O2 or oxygen is the anion. In this example, the stoichiometry (ratio) for Silicon to Oxygen is 1 to 2 and the subscript for Silicon is 1 and for oxygen is 2.