Is sulfur a cation or anion?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether sulfur carries a positive or negative charge, indicating if it is a cation (positively charged) or anion (negatively charged).
Answer
Anion
Sulfur typically forms an anion (negatively charged ion) when it gains electrons.
Answer for screen readers
Sulfur typically forms an anion (negatively charged ion) when it gains electrons.
More Information
While sulfur in its elemental form is neutral, it commonly gains electrons in chemical reactions to form the sulfide anion (S²⁻).
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the elemental form of sulfur with its ionic form. Always consider the context of the chemical state.
Sources
- What ion is sulfur most likely to form? Is this a cation or an anion? - homework.study.com
- Cation vs Anion: Definition, Chart and the Periodic Table - technologynetworks.com
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