Question

Which diagram shows the correct way to represent an ionic compound of magnesium oxide? a. the diagram shows both magnesium (mg) and the dot structure of oxygen inside the same square bracket. b. the diagram shows magnesium (mg) and the dot structure of oxygen. c. the diagram shows magnesium is a cation as it has a positive charge, whereas oxygen is having two valence electrons on all four sides, namely left, right, top, and bottom with a negative charge d. the diagram shows magnesium is a cation as it has 2 positive charges, whereas oxygen is having two valence electrons on all four sides, namely left, right, top, and bottom with 2 negative charges

Answer 1

The correct representation of magnesium oxide (MgO) as an ionic compound is by showing magnesium as a cation with a 2+ charge and oxygen as an anion with a 2- charge, forming Mg2+O2- or simply MgO.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct way to represent the ionic compound magnesium oxide (MgO) is that magnesium (Mg) becomes a cation with a 2+ charge (Mg2+), and oxygen (O) becomes an anion with a 2- charge (O2-). In the dot structure, magnesium would not be surrounded by valence electrons since it loses its two valence electrons, and oxygen would have a total of eight valence electrons, showing a complete outer shell or octet. Thus, the ionic bonding is due to the attractions between Mg2+ and O2-, forming MgO where these charges balance out and no square brackets are needed as the compound does not exist as discrete molecules.

Answer 2

The diagram which shows the correct way to represent the ionic compound, magnesium oxide is option D.

Why is this correct?

The diagram shows magnesium as a cation with a 2+ charge (since magnesium typically loses 2 electrons to achieve a stable octet) and oxygen as an anion with 2- charges (since oxygen typically gains 2 electrons to achieve a stable octet).

This representation indicates the transfer of two electrons from magnesium to oxygen, forming an ionic bond between magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O). The cation (Mg2+) and anion (O2-) attract each other due to their opposite charges, forming the ionic compound magnesium oxide (MgO).