Final answer:
True, ionic compounds are constituted by a ratio of cations and anions that results in a neutral overall charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ionic compounds contain a combination of oppositely charged cations and anions in a specific ratio to produce a compound with a neutral charge is true. To understand why, we should look at the nature of ionic compounds. These compounds are formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). The key principle here is that the total positive charge from the cations must balance the total negative charge from the anions to create a neutral compound. For example, in aluminum oxide (Al2O3), the formula indicates that there are two aluminum cations (Al³+) for every three oxide anions (O²−), which mathematically gives us (2 × +3) + (3 × −2) = 0, showing that the charges balance and the compound is neutral.