cationic
|ca-tion-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌkeɪˈtaɪənɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌkeɪˈtɪɒnɪk/
positively charged
Etymology
'cationic' originates from New Latin 'cation-' (from 'cation'), itself formed in modern chemistry from Greek elements, plus the English adjective suffix '-ic'.
'cation' was coined in the 19th century in chemical nomenclature from Greek-derived elements to name positively charged ions; adding the suffix '-ic' produced 'cationic' in English to form the adjective meaning 'of or relating to a cation'.
Initially it named and described positively charged ions and related behavior; over time it broadened to describe materials, reagents, and processes characterized by or involving cations (e.g., cationic surfactants, cationic polymerization).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or having the properties of a cation; positively charged.
A cationic surfactant binds strongly to negatively charged fibers.
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Adjective 2
describing processes or reagents that proceed via or favor cationic species (e.g., cationic polymerization).
Cationic polymerization requires an initiator that produces stable cationic intermediates.
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Last updated: 2025/09/15 15:55