By the transfer of electrons, illustrate the formation of bond in magnesium chloride and identify the ions present in this compound.
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Solution
Magnesium has an Atomic Number = of 12. Its electronic configuration is 2,8,2.
Chlorine has an Atomic Number = of 17. Its electronic configuration is 2,8,7.
Magnesium has 2 electrons in its outermost shell, therefore, its electron dot structure is:
Chlorine has 7 electrons in its last shell, therefore its electron dot structure is:
Since metals are the substances that lose electrons, therefore magnesium has 2 loosely bound electrons, hence it can donate 2 electrons.
Whereas chlorine is a non-metal, therefore it accepts the electron given by the metal. Hence the transfer of electrons takes place from magnesium to metal but chlorine can accept a maximum of 1 electron to achieve noble gas configuration, whereas magnesium can donate 2 electrons, hence 2 chlorine atoms are required to accept the 2 electrons of magnesium
Magnesium loses 2 electrons and forms magnesium ions, and by accepting 1 electron, it forms,
In this way, 2 chlorine atoms combined with one magnesium atom and form magnesium chloride