Final answer:
Ionic bonding occurs in magnesium oxide, MgO, where magnesium donates two electrons to oxygen, forming Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ ions. Their opposite charges lead to a strong electrostatic attraction and a stable ionic bond. The process involves the reaction of magnesium with oxygen, represented by the equation 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bonding that occurs in magnesium oxide, MgO, is an example of ionic bonding. Magnesium has two valence electrons, which it donates to oxygen, forming positively charged magnesium ions, Mg²⁺, and negatively charged oxide ions, O²⁻. As these ions have opposite charges, they attract each other, and this electrostatic attraction forms the ionic bond that holds the compound together.
Magnesium, with an electronegativity of 1.31, loses two electrons and is oxidized, while oxygen, with an electronegativity of 3.44, gains two electrons to complete its octet, reducing its charge. The reaction with oxygen during the formation of MgO is represented by the balanced chemical equation: 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO, indicating that two magnesium atoms react with one oxygen molecule to produce two units of magnesium oxide.
In terms of lattice energy, the ions in MgO have a high bonding energy. This energy is the result of the strong ionic bond formed between the Mg²⁺ and O²⁻ ions, demonstrating that the elements combine readily with oxygen to form their corresponding oxides, such as MgO in this case.