Here's why:
* Calcium (Ca): Calcium is an alkaline earth metal with a +2 charge.
* Sulfur (S): Sulfur is a nonmetal with a +6 charge in this compound.
* Oxygen (O): Oxygen is a nonmetal with a -2 charge.
To balance the charges, we need one calcium atom (Ca²⁺) and one sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). This gives us the formula CaSO₄.
