Question

Why is the chemical formula magnesium sulfide written as MgS and NOT Mg2S2?

Answer 1

Explanation:

The chemical formula magnesium sulfide written as MgS and NOT $Mg_{2}S_{2}$ because charge on magnesium ion is +2 and charge on sulfide ion is -2.

Therefore, these charges will cancel out each other as we write the formula in simplest crisscross  method.

Also, the numbers in a chemical formula display the total number of atoms attached with each other or central atom.

For example, in $CaCl_{2}$ there are two chlorine atoms attached to one calcium atom.

Therefore, $MgS$ denotes one sulfur atom is attached to magnesium atom. Hence, we do not write the formula of magnesium sulfide as $Mg_{2}S_{2}$ because this shows two magnesium atoms are attached to two sulfur atoms which is not true.

Answer 2

Answer:

the answer is D