Cationization of cotton

Okay kiddo, remember when we talked about cotton being made up of tiny fibers that make clothes soft and comfy? Well, sometimes we want those fibers to have special qualities like being able to repel water or to be super strong.

So, scientists figured out a way to make those cotton fibers do those things by adding something called a cation. A cation is a fancy word for a molecule that has an electric charge.

When we add cations to cotton fibers, it changes their electric charge which can make them repel water or stick together really strongly. This process of adding cations to cotton is called cationization.

So, think of it like adding a secret ingredient to your favorite recipe to make it taste even better. Scientists are adding cations to cotton to make it do special things and be even better than it already is!