The formula for the compound magnesium oxide is: Mg2O2 Mgo Mg20 MgO2
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct formula for magnesium oxide is MgO.
Explanation:
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an ionic compound formed by the combination of magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O). The reasoning behind the formula MgO involves understanding the bonding and valency of magnesium and oxygen.
- Magnesium (Mg):
- Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal in Group 2 of the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 12, meaning its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s². Magnesium has two electrons in its outermost shell. To achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas, neon, magnesium tends to lose these two electrons, forming a magnesium ion with a +2 charge (Mg²⁺).
- Oxygen (O):
- Oxygen, on the other hand, is a non-metal in Group 16 with an atomic number of 8. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴. Oxygen needs two more electrons to complete its valence shell and achieve a stable octet. To achieve this, oxygen gains two electrons, forming an oxide ion with a -2 charge (O²⁻).
- Ionic Bonding:
- When magnesium and oxygen combine, they do so in a way that the total charge of the compound is neutral. Since magnesium loses two electrons to become Mg²⁺ and oxygen gains two electrons to become O²⁻, one magnesium ion pairs with one oxide ion to balance the charges.
- Therefore, the chemical formula for magnesium oxide is MgO, indicating a 1:1 ratio of magnesium ions to oxide ions.
Why the other formulas are incorrect:
- Mg₂O₂: This formula suggests two magnesium ions and two oxygen ions, but it can be simplified to MgO because the charges are balanced in a 1:1 ratio.
- Mg₂O: This would suggest two magnesium ions and only one oxygen ion, which would lead to an imbalance in charges.
- MgO₂: This would imply one magnesium ion and two oxygen ions, which would not balance the charges properly since the magnesium ion has a +2 charge, and two oxide ions would give a total of -4, leading to a charge imbalance.
Thus, MgO is the correct formula for magnesium oxide.