Here's why:
* Scandium (II) indicates that the scandium atom has lost two electrons, giving it a +2 charge.
* Chloride refers to the chlorine anion, Cl⁻.
* To form a neutral compound, the charges of the ions must balance. Since chlorine has a -1 charge, two chloride ions (2 Cl⁻) are needed to balance the +2 charge of the scandium(II) ion.
Therefore, the formula for scandium (II) chloride is ScCl₂.