cation-exchange resin


cat·i·on ex·change

(kat'ī-on eks-chānj'), The process by which a cation in a liquid phase exchanges with another cation present as the counter ion of a negatively charged solid polymer (cation exchanger). A cation-exchange reaction in removal of the Na+ of a sodium chloride solution is RSO3-H+ + Na+ → RSO3-Na+ + H+ (R is the polymer, RSO3- is the cation exchanger); if this is combined with the anion-exchange reaction, NaCl is removed from the solution (desalting). Cation exchange may also be used chromatographically, to separate cations, and medicinally, to remove a cation, for example, H+, from gastric contents, or Na+ and K+ in the intestine. See: anion exchange.

cat·i·on ex·change

(kat'ī-on eks-chānj') The process by which a cation in a liquid phase exchanges with another cation present as the counter-ion of a negatively charged solid polymer (cation exchanger). Cation exchange may be used chromatographically, to separate cations, and medicinally, to remove a cation.
See also: anion exchange