1. Determine the Charges of the Ions:
* Potassium (K) is in group 1 of the periodic table, so it forms a +1 cation (K⁺).
* Phosphorus (P) is in group 15 (or 5A), and typically forms a -3 anion (P³⁻).
2. Balance the Charges:
To achieve a neutral compound, we need three potassium ions (3 x +1 = +3) to balance the charge of one phosphide ion (-3).
3. Write the Formula:
The formula of the ionic compound is K₃P.
4. Name the Compound:
* The cation (potassium) keeps its name.
* The anion (phosphide) ends in "-ide".
Therefore, the name of the ionic compound is potassium phosphide.
