Understanding Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). To achieve a neutral compound, the charges must balance out.
Steps
1. Identify the charges: You've correctly identified the ions: Ba²⁺ (barium ion) and S²⁻ (sulfide ion).
2. Find the least common multiple (LCM) of the charges: The LCM of 2 and 2 is 2.
3. Determine the subscripts:
* To get a +2 charge, you need one barium ion (Ba¹).
* To get a -2 charge, you need one sulfide ion (S¹).
4. Write the formula: The formula for the compound is BaS.
Therefore, the compound formed from Ba²⁺ and S²⁻ is barium sulfide (BaS).
