Question

By the transfer of electrons, illustrate the formation of bond in magnesium chloride and identify the ions present in this compound.

Answer 1

• 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, ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}$ and by accepting 1 electron, it forms, ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$
• In this way, 2 chlorine atoms combined with one magnesium atom and form magnesium chloride ${\mathrm{MgCl}}_2$