Magnesium chloride (MgCl_(2)) is an ionic compound. The diagram shows the electronic configurations of atoms of magnesium and chlorine. (i) Describe how magnesium atoms and chlorine atoms form magnesium ions and chloride ions. __ (ii) Drawa diagram to represent the electronic configurations of each of the ions in magnesium chloride. Show the charge on each ion.

# Explanation(i) Magnesium atoms and chlorine atoms form magnesium ions and chloride ions through the transfer of electrons. Magnesium ( ), which is in Group 2 of the periodic table, has two electrons in its outermost shell. It tends to lose these two electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration similar to the nearest noble gas, neon. When magnesium loses these two electrons, it forms a magnesium ion ( ) with a positive charge of +2.Chlorine ( ), on the other hand, is in Group 17 of the periodic table and has seven electrons in its outermost shell. It needs one more electron to complete its outer shell and reach the stable electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas, argon. When each chlorine atom gains an electron, it forms a chloride ion ( ) with a negative charge of -1.The transfer of electrons from magnesium to chlorine results in the formation of ionic bonds, where the magnesium ion and two chloride ions associate due to electrostatic forces, forming the ionic compound magnesium chloride ( ).(ii) To represent the electronic configurations of the ions in magnesium chloride and show the charge on each ion, consider the following:- Magnesium ion ( ): After losing two electrons, magnesium has the electronic configuration of neon ( ), which is . The ion has a +2 charge.- Chloride ion ( ): After gaining one electron, each chlorine atom has the electronic configuration of argon ( ), which is . Each ion has a -1 charge.# Answer(i) Magnesium atoms lose two electrons to form ions, while chlorine atoms gain one electron to form ions. This electron transfer leads to the formation of ionic bonds in magnesium chloride.(ii) Magnesium ion ( ): with a +2 charge.Chloride ion ( ): with a -1 charge.