Which ion does magnesium form?

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Multiple Choice

Which ion does magnesium form?

Explanation:
Magnesium forms a doubly charged cation because it has two electrons in its outer shell to lose in order to reach a stable, noble-gas electron arrangement. By shedding those two valence electrons, it becomes Mg2+, which is why Mg2+ is the common ion seen in compounds. Losing just one electron (to make Mg+) would leave a less stable configuration, and removing three electrons (to make Mg3+) requires much higher energy, so that ion is not typical. The neutral atom Mg0 exists only as a metal, not as an ion in most chemical contexts.

Magnesium forms a doubly charged cation because it has two electrons in its outer shell to lose in order to reach a stable, noble-gas electron arrangement. By shedding those two valence electrons, it becomes Mg2+, which is why Mg2+ is the common ion seen in compounds. Losing just one electron (to make Mg+) would leave a less stable configuration, and removing three electrons (to make Mg3+) requires much higher energy, so that ion is not typical. The neutral atom Mg0 exists only as a metal, not as an ion in most chemical contexts.

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