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Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound. Magnesium has 2 valence electrons, and chlorine has 7. According to the octet rule, each element will bond in such a way that it ends up having 8 electrons in its outer shell--either by adding electrons to its outer shell until it has 8, or by losing all the electrons in its outer shell (that way, the next-largest electron shell--which is already full--becomes the new outer shell). Since magnesium has 2 valence electrons, it will lose two electrons (it's easier to go 2 - 2 = 0 than to go 2 + 6 = 8). Chlorine has 7, so it will gain an electron and have a full (8-electron) outer shell. There must therefore be two chlorines for every magnesium: each chlorine accepts one of the two electrons donated by magnesium. Magnesium forms two ionic bonds: one to each chloride ion.

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Q: How many bonds can magnesium chloride form?
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Related questions

How many elements are joined together to form magnesium chloride?

Magnesium chloride is composed of one magnesium atom and two chlorine atoms, making a total of three elements that are joined together to form magnesium chloride.


Is magnesium and chlorine a likely compound?

It's an actual, and common, compound - MgCl2 (magnesium chloride), a constituent of seawater, has many uses including just chasing off the chlorine atoms to recover the magnesium metal.


How many chloride ions are needed to cancel the 2 charge of magnesium in magnesium chloride (MgC12)?

Two.


How many chloride atoms will magnesium bond?

Magnesium atoms, which form divalent cations, can each bond ionically with two chloride ions, because chlorine atoms form anions with only one negative charge each. ("Chloride atoms" as written in the question do not exist: chlorine atoms form chloride ions by gaining one electron each from less electronegative atoms.)


How many chloride ions are present in a formula unit of magnesium chloride?

In a formula unit of magnesium chloride (MgCl2), there are 2 chloride ions present. This is because magnesium has a +2 charge and chloride has a -1 charge, so it takes two chloride ions to balance the charge of one magnesium ion.


How many soluble chlorides are there?

There are many soluble chlorides, such as sodium chloride (table salt), potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. These compounds dissolve readily in water to form clear solutions.


Which solution will react with magnesium metal?

Hydrochloric acid will react with magnesium metal to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas.


How many atoms in magnesium chloride?

Three. Two chlorine atoms and one magnesium atom.


How many chlorine atoms are in MgCl2?

Three. Two chlorine atoms and one magnesium atom.


What does the formula for the compound magnesium chloride MgCl2 tell you about how many chloride ions are needed to cancel out the charge of magnesium?

The formula MgCl2 indicates that one magnesium ion (Mg2+) requires two chloride ions (2Cl-) to cancel out its charge. Each chloride ion carries a charge of -1, so two chloride ions are needed to balance the +2 charge of magnesium.


What is the gas given of when magnesium reacts with acid?

there are many many acidic corosive materials. you will need to be more specific as in what type of acid the magnesium is reacting with. i assume you are at school and are talking about hydrochloric acid. If you add Magnesium metal to hydrochloric acid , the Magnesium will dissolve and form bubbles of hydrogen gas.


How many chloride ions are present in a formula unit of magnesium chloride given the charge of a mg ion is 2 plus?

There are two chloride ions present in a formula unit of magnesium chloride. This is because the magnesium ion has a 2+ charge, requiring two 1- chloride ions to balance the charge in a 1:2 ratio.