Electropositive

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing an element or atom that tends to lose electrons and form positive ions in chemical reactions
2. Characterizing a chemical element known for its propensity to lose electrons and form positively charged ions in reactions
3. Referring to an element or ion that readily loses electrons to create positive electrical charges during chemical interactions

Etymology: Electropositive is a plain technical compound, built in English from "electro-" and "positive." The "electro-" part traces back through French and Latin to the ancient Greek "ḗlektron," meaning amber, the resin whose rubbing produced the static charge that gave electricity its name. The "positive" part comes from Latin "positivus," meaning placed or put forward, which passed through Old French into English. The compound describes an element or substance that tends to give up electrons easily and so acquire a positive charge. Chemists use it to rank elements: metals such as sodium and potassium are strongly electropositive, while fluorine sits at the opposite end of the scale. The pairing shows the logic of the term. Amber was once the ancient model for static electricity, and "positive" in its scientific sense simply reflects the charge the substance ends up carrying.

Synonyms: positive, cationic, alkaline, metallic, basic

Antonyms: electronegative, acidic, anionic, negative, nonmetallic