( ( If ( it ( has ( ( fewer electrons ) ( than protons ) ) ) ) ) ( it ( ( ( ( has ( a ( net ( positive charge ) ) ) ) and ) ( is ( known ( as ( a cation ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) )
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN If) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (JJR fewer) (NNS electrons)) (PP (IN than) (NP (NNS protons))))))) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VP (VBZ has) (NP (DT a) (JJ net) (JJ positive) (NN charge))) (CC and) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN known) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT a) (NN cation)))))) (. .)))
If it has fewer electrons than protons it has a net positive charge and is known as a cation .
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Ions)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBP contain) (NP (JJR fewer) (NNS electrons)) (PP (IN than) (NP (NNS protons))))))) (VP (VP (VBP have) (NP (DT a) (JJ net) (JJ positive) (NN charge))) (CC and) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN called) (NP (NNS cations))))) (. .)))