Here's why:

* Cation: A positively charged ion.

* Anion: A negatively charged ion.

* Sodium carbonate is an ionic compound formed by the combination of a metal (sodium) and a non-metal (carbonate).

* Sodium (Na) loses one electron to become a positively charged ion, Na⁺.

* Carbonate (CO₃) gains two electrons to become a negatively charged ion, CO₃²⁻.

To balance the charges, two sodium ions (2Na⁺) combine with one carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) to form the neutral compound sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃).