Question

What is the ionic bond formation of magnesium chloride?

Answer 1

Magnesium chloride:

• Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound that is made up of magnesium $\left({\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}\right)$ and two chloride $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$ ions.
• The atomic number of magnesium is $12$ so its electronic configuration is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^2$.
• The atomic number of chlorine is $17$so its electronic configuration is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^5$.
• As chlorine needs $1$electron to attain stable electronic configuration so magnesium donates its two electrons to two chlorine atoms and thus magnesium$\left({\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}\right)$ and two chloride$\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$ ions are formed as shown below.
• Magnesium chloride is formed when oppositely charged magnesium and chloride ions attract each other, so the product so formed is ${\mathrm{MgCl}}_2$.
• The formation of Magnesium chloride $\left({\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\right)$ is shown below: