Question

Which of the following terms would you use to describe Mg²⁺? (Select all that apply.)

a) Cation
b) Anion
c) Monoatomic
d) Divalent

Answer 1

Mg²⁺ is accurately described as a cation, a divalent ion, and monoatomic because it is a positively charged single atom with a charge of +2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To describe Mg²⁺, which is the magnesium ion, several terms are correct. First, since it has a positive charge, it is a cation. Ions can either have a positive (cation) or negative (anion) charge, so an 'anion' would not be correct in this case as it signifies a negative charge. Secondly, Mg²⁺ is considered divalent because it has lost two electrons, resulting in a charge of +2. Finally, the term 'monoatomic' is also appropriate because Mg²⁺ consists of a single atom with a charge, rather than being a polyatomic ion, which is composed of more than one atom.