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Atomic Structure

The Ionic Bond formation for Magnesium Chloride.

Magnesium is in group 2 of the periodic table.
A magnesium atom will lose 2 electrons to form a stable 2⁺ ion.

Chlorine is in group 7 of the periodic table.
A chlorine atom will gain 1 electron to form a stable 1^- ion.

In this example the electrons are shown as dots and crosses.

Two chlorine atoms will each gain one electron from
the magnesium atom. The atoms become ions.

The attraction between the oppositely charged ions
forms the ionic bond between magnesium and chlorine.
The formula for magnesium chloride is MgCl₂.

magnesium + chlorine     magnesium chloride.
Mg_(s)    +  Cl_2(g)                      MgCl_2(s)

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