Question

Even though so much energy is required to form a metal cation with a 2+charge, the alkaline earth metals form halides with general formula MX₂, rather than MX.
(b) Is MgCl favored energetically relative to Mg and Cl₂? Explain.

Answer 1

MgCl does not favored energetically relative to Mg and Cl₂.

What is alkaline earth metal?

The alkaline earth metals are those elements which correspond to group 2 of the modern periodic table.

All elements of this group forms a cation of +2 charge.

The other elements of this group are:

Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, and Radium.

What is Halogen?

The Halogen elements are present in group 17 of the modern periodic table.

All elements of this groups forms anions of -1 charge.

The elements of this group are:

Fluorine, Chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

Since, Magnesium has +2 cation charge so it reacts with 2 atoms of chlorine rather than 1 in order to complete their octate and becomes more stable as chlorine has charge of -1.

If one chlorine atom react with magnesium then it does not complete the octet of magnesium and compound becomes unstable.

Thus, we concluded that MgCl does not favored energetically relative to Mg and Cl₂.

learn more about Ionic bond:

brainly.com/question/13526463

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