Question

Explain, in terms of valence electrons, why the bonding in magnesium oxide, MgO, is similar to the bonding in barium chloride, BaCl2.

Answer 1

Mg and Ba both have 2 valence electrons, and the bonding in the two compounds are similar because they both have ionic bonds.
Hope this helps~

Answer 2

They are both ionic bonds, which is a bond between a metal (Mg, Ba) and a non metal (O, Cl)