How do magnesium and chlorine bond

The diagrams show two ways of representing this electron transfer. The slideshow shows dot and cross diagrams for the ions in sodium chloride, magnesium oxide and calcium chloride. Ionic bonding in sodium chloride. Ionic bonding in magnesium oxide. In this case, magnesium bonds with two chlorine Cl atoms which each need one electron. With the additional electron, chlorine has a filled shell and magnesium loses two electrons.

Another example of ionic bonding takes place between magnesium Mg and oxygen O to form magnesium oxide MgO. The attractive force between the oppositely charged ions is what holds the molecule together.

In terms of electron arrangement in the formation of the ionic compound magnesium chloride, the magnesium donates its two outer electrons to two chlorine atoms forming a double positive magnesium ion and two single negative chloride ions via electron transfer.

The final formula for magnesium chloride is MgCl 2. Use the link below to answer the following questions:. Skip to main content. Ionic and Metallic Bonding. Search for:. Ionic Bonding Ionic and Metallic Bonding. Define ionic compound. Define ionic bond. Use electron dot diagrams to illustrate electron transfer and ionic bond formation. Show References References Leon Brooks. CK Foundation — Joy Sheng.