Potassium Carbonate has the following chemical formula: K2CO3
This means that it is made of the potassium cation and the polyatomic carbonate anion
The potassium cation has a +1 charge and is written as: K+1
The carbonate anion has a -2 charge and is written as: CO3-2
In an ionic compound, the charges must balance/cancel out, which is why there are 2 potassium cations (2 x +1 = +2) and one carbonate anion (1 x -2 = -2).
(+2 + -2 = 0)
