How di I write the Lewis structure of magnesium chloride?

1 Answer
Jul 29, 2016

See below.

Explanation:

MgCl2 is an ionic compound.

The electron configuration of Mg is 1s22s22p63s23p64s2.

Mg can get a noble gas s2p6 configuration by losing its two 4s electrons and forming a magnesium ion, Mg2+.

The electron configuration of Cl is 1s22s22p63s23p5.

Cl can get a noble gas s2p6 configuration by gaining an electron and forming a chloride ion, Cl-.

The Lewis structure of MgCl2 is therefore

Lewis structure
(From www.superteachertools.net)

The compound is held together by electrostatic attractions between the positively charged magnesium ion and the negatively charged chloride ions.