Question

Write the configuration of a magnesium atom? Will the atom lose or gain electrons? Explain using the idea of stability and energy.

Answer 1

The electronic configuration of magnesium is 2,8,2. In this example the atom will lose two electrons forming a positive ion(metal)to become stable

Answer 2

`1s^(2) 2s^(2) 2p^(6) 3s^(2)`

Magnesium will lose 2 electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Looking at a periodic table, magnesium is in the third period and the second group. It would help to look up where atomic orbitals are on the periodic table, but basically, s orbitals are filled in the first two groups. Since magnesium is in the second group, it will just have filled a 3s orbital with two electrons.

Elements in groups 1A, 2A, and 3A especially like to lose electrons to gain stability. Elements want to have a filled valence (outer) orbital with 8 electrons (except for hydrogen and helium) like noble gases. As such, they will lose or gain electrons in the easiest way possible to get a filled valence orbital. Magnesium wants to have the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas, in this case neon, so it will lose 2 electrons to achieve this stability. It takes much less energy to lose 2 electrons than gain 6 to fill its valence orbital, so magnesium will go for the former.