1. Identify the charges:
* Sodium (Na) forms a +1 ion (Na⁺)
* Sulfide (S) forms a -2 ion (S²⁻)
2. Balance the charges:
* To achieve electrical neutrality, you need two sodium ions (2 x +1 = +2) to balance the charge of one sulfide ion (-2).
3. Write the formula:
The formula for the ionic compound is Na₂S.