Question

Describe, in terms of electrons, how magnesium atoms and chlorine atoms change into ions to produce magnesium chloride.
this is a 4 mark question.

Answer 1

Answer:

A magnesium atom will lose 2 electrons to form a stable 2+ ion. ... A chlorine atom will gain 1 electron to form a stable 1- ion,forms the ionic bond between magnesium and chlorine.

Answer 2

Answer:

A magnesium atom donates 2 electrons, and each atom of chlorine molecule accepts one 1 electron. This produces magnesium chloride.

Explanation:

• A magnesium atom has an atomic number of 11 and its electronic number is 2, 8, 2. It can lose two electrons to gain a noble gas configuration.

• A chlorine atom has an atomic number of 17 and its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 7. It can gain one electron to achieve a noble gas configuration.

• When a magnesium atom and a chlorine molecule react, magnesium donates 2 electrons to the chlorine molecule, and becomes a cation (Mg²⁺).

• Each atom of chlorine molecule accepts one electron, becoming an anion (Cl⁻).

• Now magnesium is positively charged and chlorine is negatively charged. Due to the existence of the opposite charges, the cation and cations are held together to form ionic bonds. We then get magnesium chloride (MgCl₂).