Why does magnesium have the symbol Mg2?

Answer 1

Magnesium has the chemical symbol Mg. If we see Mg2 in an expression or formula, we know that there are 2 atoms of magnesium in the expression or formula. That's the way it appears in Mg2RuH4. There is also (and probably most commonly) those times we encounter the ion of magnesium, and Mg+2 is our way of writing that. The magnesium has loaned out its two valence electrons, and has formed a compound according to its nature (and it's now in its +2 oxidation state). An example of magnesium in compound is MgO, which is the oxide of magnesium, magnesium oxide.

Answer 2

Magnesium has the chemical symbol Mg because it comes from the first two letters of its name. The "2" subscript refers to the charge of the magnesium ion when it forms an ionic bond, which is typically +2, indicating that it loses two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.

Answer 3

it might be because the signs are based on the i forgot i think europoeians word of it. so mg might stand for magnesium in Europe. not the real word it is just the letter of it.

Answer 4

Magnesium gets its symbol (Mg) from its name: magnesium.

Magnesium gets its name from Magnesia, a location in ancient Greece.

Answer 5

Because it's an element and that's its symbol. If you're asking why the symbol for magnesium is Mg rather than, say, Ma ... because it is.