ionic character nature Cao and Mgo?
Answers
Answer:
Well, as you go down the periodic table, the metallic ions get more electropositive. So Ca will be less “covalent” than Mg; but neither MgO nor CaO are covalent, both are ionic & dissolve in water to give the hydroxides.
If you are talking about sideways progression from Mg0 thru Al, Si…K etc oxides until you get to CaO, then we pass the covalent elements in the middle of the table, like Si (gives SiO² - quartz).
Answer:
The ionic formula for calcium oxide is simply CaO.
Oxygen has six valence electrons and is looking to gain two electrons to complete the octet (8) electron count in the valence shell making it a -2 anion. This one to one ratio of charges makes the formula CaO.
Mg is a metal and completes its octet by the loss of e
−
. Oxygen is a non-metal and completes its octet by the gain of e
−
. So, the formation of MgO involves transfer of e
−
from metal to non-metal. Hence, the bonding is electrovalent or ionic in nature.