Humber Admissions Practice Test

The principle that like charges repel each other is rooted in the fundamental laws of electrostatics. Ions are charged particles, and their interactions are governed by the properties of electric charges.

Cations are positively charged ions, while anions are negatively charged ions. When considering the interactions among cations or among anions, both scenarios illustrate that like charges repel. For instance, if you have multiple cations, they will push away from each other because they all carry the same positive charge. Similarly, multiple anions will also repel each other due to their negative charges.

In contrast, cations and anions attract each other, since they carry opposite charges. Therefore, the interactions of cations with other cations and anions with other anions affirm the principle that like charges repel.

This understanding helps clarify why the inclusion of both cations and cations or anions and anions in the response accurately captures the concept of repulsion among like charges.