# Question c09a5

In 1 mole of sodium carbonate ($N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$) there would be 2 moles of sodium ions (Na^+).

Sodium ions have a +1 charge ($N {a}^{+}$), and carbonate ions have a -2 charge ($C {O}_{3}^{-} 2$) so you know that these ions must combine in a 2:1 ratio to give a compound which has no charge (electrically neutral).

Once you have determined the chemical formula, let's consider what it means.

$N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$ = is the chemical formula for sodium carbonate

Imagine you have just one unit sodium carbonate - you would have 2 ions of Na.

If you had 10 units of $N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$ you would have 20 sodium ions.

100 units of $N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$ would have 200 sodium ions.

1,000,000 units of $N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$ would have 2,000,000 sodium ions.

Now multiply by a really big number, $6.022 x {10}^{23}$

You would have $1.2044 x {10}^{24}$ sodium ions, which is 2 moles.

The important thing is the ratio. Since the ratio is 2:1, 1 mole of $N {a}_{2} C {O}_{3}$ will have 2 moles of Na.

Hope this helps!
Noel P.