What is the electron dot diagram for magnesium oxide?

1 Answer
anor277
May 15, 2016

Well, magnesium oxide is an ionic species, which we could represent as #Mg^(2+)O^(2-)#.

Explanation:

Elemental magnesium has 12 nuclear protons, #Z=12#. It has 2 valence electrons that are conceived to be lost when it undergoes oxidation to #Mg^(2+)#.

#MgrarrMg^(2+) + 2e^-# #(i)#

Elemental (atomic!) oxygen has 8 electrons, #Z=8#. The oxide anion thus has 10 electrons upon reduction:

#O + 2e^(-) rarr O^(2-)# #(ii)#

So #(i) + (ii)=#

#Mg(s) + 1/2O_2(g) rarr MgO(s)#

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