Question

Chemistry 30 points

Magnesium has two valence electrons and oxygen has six valence electrons. The electronegativity difference between the two elements is 2.13.

How can the octet rule be used to explain the bonding between magnesium and oxygen?

Oxygen needs access to two electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium prefers to lose two valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Oxygen can remove two electrons from magnesium, forming ions; leading to an ionic bond.

Oxygen needs to lose six electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium needs access to six valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium can remove six electrons from oxygen, forming ions and leading to an ionic bond.

Oxygen needs access to two electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium prefers to lose two valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium and oxygen can share two electrons, leading to a covalent bond.

Oxygen needs to lose six electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium needs access to six valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Magnesium and oxygen can share six electrons, leading to a covalent bond.

MUST EXPLAIN OR WILL NOT GET POINTS

Answer 1

A

Step-by-step explanation:

The octet rule refers to the fact that an element needs 8 valence electrons in its outer energy shell to be stable. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons while Magnesium has 2. This means that Oxygen can take both of magnesium's valence electrons and have 8 valence electrons in its outer energy level, making it stable. If magnesium loses 2 valence electrons, it will have 0 valence electrons in its valence shell. Wait, but how is that possible? It needs 8 to be stable right? The periodic table is arranged in such a way that the number of energy levels an atom has increases as you go down the periods, meaning that if an ion has filled up its outer shell and can't take anymore electrons, it will start a new outer shell. Similarly, if magnesium loses its 2 valence electrons, there are still 2 energy levels that are full that magnesium possesses, meaning that magnesium also has a full octet. The bond between magnesium and oxygen would be an ionic bond, since it's a combination of a metal and nonmetal.