Why is the bonding in magnesium oxide similar to the bonding in barium chloride, in terms of valence electrons?

1 Answer
anor277
May 28, 2018

Well, both magnesium and barium are #"alkaline earths...."#

Explanation:

Well, both magnesium and barium are #"alkaline earths...."#, the which give dications upon oxidation....

...from Group 2 of the Periodic Table. And given Group 2, there are TWO valence electrons, which are readily oxidized to give dications…

And so #Mg(s) + 1/2O_2(g) rarrunderbrace(MgO)_(Mg^(2+) + O^(2-))#

And likewise...

#Ba(s) + Cl_2(g) rarrunderbrace(BaCl_2)_(Ba^(2+) +2xxCl^-)#

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