Question

What is a magnesium alkoxide?

Answer 1

A magnesium alkoxide is the magnesium salt of an alcohol.

Explanation:

An alkoxide ion `"RO"^"-"` is the conjugate base of an alcohol (`"ROH")`, where `"R"` is any alkyl group.

`underbrace("ROH")_color(red)("acid") + "H"_2"O" ⇌ underbrace("RO"^"-")_color(red)("conjugate base") + "H"_3"O"^"+"`

The general formula for a salt is `"M"_text(a)"X"_text(b)`, where `"M"` is the metal cation, `"X"` is the anion, and `"a"` and `"b"` are integers.

Magnesium ion is `"Mg"^(2+)`, and alkoxide is `"RO"^"-"`.

∴ The formula for a magnesium alkoxide is `"Mg(OR)"_2`.