The atomic number of chlorine is 17. The atomic number of magnesium is 12. Given this information, what is the formula for magnesium chloride?
A) MgCl
B) MgCl2
C) Mg2Cl
D) MgCl3

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Magnesium (Mg) has an atomic number of 12, which means it has 2 electrons in its outer shell and tends to lose these two electrons to achieve a stable electronic arrangement. Chlorine (Cl) has an atomic number of 17, with 7 electrons in its outer shell, and tends to gain 1 electron to achieve a stable electronic arrangement. Therefore, one magnesium atom can bond with two chlorine atoms to form magnesium chloride, MgCl2, where magnesium loses 2 electrons (one to each chlorine atom), resulting in the formula MgCl2.

The Atomic Number of Chlorine Is 17