What is the formula of #"magnesium hydroxide"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 27, 2017

#Mg(OH)_2#

Explanation:

Now we know that hydroxides are salts of #HO^-#, and some metal ion. Now if the parent metal has an electronic configuration of #2:8:2#, then there are 12 electrons, and the atomic number of the metal is equal to #12#. We look on the Periodic Table, and we find that #Z=12#, for #"magnesium metal"#.

As a Group 2 metal, magnesium forms a #Mg^(2+)# ion, and hence its hydroxide is #Mg(OH)_2#.

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