Question

give the reason why the formula of magnesium chloride is MgCI2,but that of magnesium oxide is MgO ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Magnesium ions are smaller than sodium ions, and oxide ions are smaller than chloride ions. ... But the main factor is the charge on the ions. In MgO, both positive and negative ions carry two charges.compounds must be electrically neutral, the magnesium ion has a double positive charge, the oxide ion has a double negative charge, but the chloride ion has a single negative charge. Therefore it takes two chloride ions, but only one oxide ion, to form a compound with a magnesium ion.