What is the ionic compound of na^+ and co3^2-

To find the chemical formula of an ionic compound, the first step is to find the charge of the 2 ions. As given already, the charge of sodium ion is 1+, and carbonate ion has a charge of 2-. We can picture it like that: Sodium ion loses 1 electron and carbonate ion gains 2.

The next step is to find how the 2 ions can lose and gain electrons equally. In this case, since each Na ion only loses 1 electron, it cannot satisfy the need of one carbonate ion, since they need 2, not 1. Therefore, 2 Na ions can cover the need of one carbonate ion. So, the ratio of Na to CO3 ion should be 2:1.

Now just combine the 2 ions, positive one at the front, which makes it NaCO3, make sure you do not add the charge and notice that CO3 is a molecule itself so do not remove the 3. Now because the ratio is 2:1, so the final formula is Na2CO3, no need to add 1 if the ratio is 1.

Your answer should be Na2CO3.

the atomic number will stay the same no matter how many electrons it has, so it doesn’t decrease nor increase. it’ll only change with a different number of protons