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Question

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, Mg2+ and by accepting 1 electron, it forms, Cl-
  • In this way, 2 chlorine atoms combined with one magnesium atom and form magnesium chloride MgCl2


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