Here's why:
* Ionic Compounds: Barium hydroxide is an ionic compound, meaning it's formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).
* Balancing Charges: Barium has a +2 charge, while hydroxide has a -1 charge. To achieve neutrality, you need two hydroxide ions for every barium ion.
* Chemical Formula: This results in the chemical formula Ba(OH)₂.