# carbon vs cation

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### carbon
*noun · IPA /ˈkɑɹ.bən/ · frequency rank #2,717*
The chemical element (symbol C) with an atomic number of 6. It can be found in pure form for example as graphite, a black, shiny and very soft material, or diamond, a colourless, transparent, crystalline solid and the hardest known material.

### cation
*noun · IPA /ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/ · frequency rank #37,370*
A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/carbon-vs-cation