cation exchanger


cat·i·on ex·chang·er

(kat'ī-on eks-chānj'ĕr), An insoluble solid (usually a polystyrene or a polysaccharide) that has negatively charged radicals attached to it (for example, -COO-, -SO3-), which can attract and hold cations that pass by in a moving solution if these are more attracted to the acid groups than the counter ion present.