Hello, Anjela,
An anion has a negative charge. A cation has a positive charge.
The metals will have positive charges, since they are more willing to give up an electron. Those electrons are generally taken by the nonmetals, of which cyanide, chlorite, and chloride are examples. Any of these last three would be more than happy to mug a copper atom pf an electron. They all become anions; copper becomes a cation. The odd thing is that copper actually enjoys the loss and will walk dark alleys for the experience of passing out an electron.
Bob
