Cation exchange chromatography retains positively charged cations because the stationary phase displays a negatively charged functional group: .
\text{R-X}^-\text{C}^+\,+\, \text{M}^+ \, \text{B}^- \rightleftarrows \,\text{R-X}^-\text{M}^+ \,+\, \text{C}^+ \,+\, \text{B}^- .