Question

Look at this compound, why does magnesium has dative and covalent bonds with nitrogen? ...?

Answer 1

The solid lines between N and Mg are actually ionic bonds. N has 5 valence electrons (2 of which are paired). Of the 3 that are unpaired, 2 are part of covalent bonds with adjacent carbon atoms. N accepts an extra electron to complete its octet, but gets a formal charge of -1. This allows for formation of an ionic bond with Mg, which is +2. Two of these charged N atoms therefore neutralize the charge of the central Mg. As for the coordinate (dative) covalent bonds, Mg has empty orbitals - the ionic bonds with the charged N atoms give it only 4/8 possible valence electrons.


The other two N atoms (dotted lines) have a formal charge of 0 since they form three covalent bonds with adjacent carbon atoms, but they still have a lone pair. Therefore, just to improve stability, each of these N atoms can "donate" its lone pair to Mg in order to complete its octet.


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