How do you actually know the chemical formulae for the ionic compound

If you have to write the chemical formula of a simple, binary ionic compound given the name of the compound, you follow a set of three steps. Let's go through them using magnesium chloride as an example. Write the symbols for the cation and the anion: Mg and Cl. Determine the charge on the cation and anion.

Answerthe half-reaction having the greatest tendency to occur at the anode:     i₂(aq) + 2e⁻  ⇄ 2i⁻  ;   e = +0.53 v======oxidation occurs at the anode. we must therefore find the half-reaction with the greatest tendency to oxidize.the given values of e are reduction potentials (the form of the half-reactions are of reduction).the lower the reduction potential, the higher the potential to oxidize. the half-cell with the lowest reduction potential will have the greatest tendency to oxidize at the anode.the half-reaction having the greatest tendency must be    i₂(aq) + 2e⁻  ⇄ 2i⁻    e = +0.53 vbecause its reduction potential is the lowest out of the three.