What is the charge of the ion that a magnesium atom will usually form?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2015

Magnesium is an alkaline earth; it is in Group 2 of the Periodic Table. The charge on its cation should be be?

Explanation:

Mg, #Z=12#, should have an electronic configuration of #1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)#. Which electrons are most far away from the nucleus? What should be the configuration of the most stable ion?