( ( ( A ( simple view ) ) ( of ( ( the formation ) ( of ( an ( ionic compound ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( is ( that ( ( ( the electrons ) ( lost ( by ( the cation ) ) ) ) ( are ( gained ( by ( the anion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ; ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT A) (JJ simple) (NN view)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN formation)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT an) (JJ ionic) (NN compound)))))) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS electrons)) (VP (VBN lost) (PP (IN by) (NP (DT the) (NN cation))))) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN gained) (PP (IN by) (NP (DT the) (NN anion)))))))) (: ;)))
A simple view of the formation of an ionic compound is that the electrons lost by the cation are gained by the anion;
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (VP (VBG naming) (NP (DT an) (JJ ionic) (NN compound))))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN cation)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN written) (ADVP (RB first)))) (. .)))
When naming an ionic compound, the cation is written first.