Final answer:
In the chemical formula for an ionic compound, the metal is written first followed by the nonmetal.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the chemical formula for an ionic compound, the metal is written first followed by the nonmetal.
For example, in the ionic compound sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium is the metal and is written first, followed by chlorine which is the nonmetal.
It is important to note that the formula for an ionic compound shows how many of each ion is needed to balance the total positive and negative charges, and the name does not need to include indication of this ratio.