Here's why:
* Beryllium is in group 2 of the periodic table, meaning it has a +2 charge as a cation (Be²⁺).
* Oxygen is in group 16, meaning it has a -2 charge as an anion (O²⁻).
* To form a neutral compound, the charges need to balance. Therefore, one beryllium ion (Be²⁺) combines with one oxygen ion (O²⁻) to form BeO.