In naming compounds, one has to know the symbol for each element. Magnesium's symbol is Mg. In its ionic form, it is symbolized as Mg2+. Chlorate ions are polyatomic. Chlorite is ClO2-, chlorate is ClO3- and perchlorate is ClO4-. Next, when combining elements to form compounds, you 'cross multiply' their ionic charges. In doing so, Magnesium Chlorate is
