( ( The cation ) ( ( ( ( comes first ) , ) ( both ( ( ( in ( the name ) ) and ) ( in ( ( the formula ) ( for ( an ( ionic compound ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN cation)) (VP (VBZ comes) (ADVP (RB first)) (, ,) (PP (DT both) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN name))) (CC and) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN formula)) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT an) (JJ ionic) (NN compound))))))) (. .)))
The cation comes first, both in the name and in the formula for an ionic compound.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (S (VP (VBG naming) (NP (JJ ternary) (NNS compounds))))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN cation)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN stated) (ADVP (RB first)))) (. .)))