Final answer:
The symbol Mn on the periodic table stands for Manganese, not to be confused with Magnesium which has the symbol Mg. Manganese has various oxidation states, such as +2 in MnO or +7 in the MnO4 ion. Magnesium is a group 2 metal that forms a Mg2+ cation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbol Mn on the periodic table stands for Manganese. Manganese is a chemical element that has a variety of oxidation states and is used in many industrial processes. For example, Mn2+ is the most stable ion of manganese, and it can be found in compounds such as MnO, which has manganese in the +2 oxidation state, or in the permanganate ion MnO4, where manganese has a +7 oxidation state.
On the other hand, Magnesium, which has the symbol Mg, is another element that readily forms ions. As a group 2 metal, magnesium forms a cation with a +2 charge, denoted as Mg2+. This ion forms when a magnesium atom loses two electrons, achieving the same number of electrons as the noble gas neon.