A 2+ charged ion, or cation, has lost two electrons, leading to its positive charge. Magnesium (Mg2+) and iron (Fe2+) are examples of divalent cations found in ionic compounds.
An ion with a charge of 2+ is a positively charged particle called a cation. This ion has lost two electrons, leading to its positive charge. Common examples of such ions include magnesium (Mg2+) and iron (Fe2+). These ions are crucial in various chemical reactions and play important roles in the structure and function of materials and living organisms.
In ionic compounds, the positive charge of the cations must balance the negative charge of the anions to result in a neutral overall compound. For instance, when iron forms an ionic compound with chloride (Cl-), the iron typically has a charge of 2+ (Fe2+), to balance the negative charge of two chloride anions.
Magnesium is a good example of a divalent cation, represented as Mg2+ or Mg++, meaning it has lost two electrons and carries a net charge of +2. Thus, it can form various compounds by balancing charges with anions.