Understanding the Ions
* Magnesium (Mg) forms a +2 cation: Mg²⁺
* Calcium (Ca) forms a +2 cation: Ca²⁺
* Nitrate (NO₃) forms a -1 anion: NO₃⁻
Balancing Charges
To form a neutral ionic compound, the charges of the cation and anion must balance out. Here's how to apply this:
* Magnesium Nitrate (Mg(NO₃)₂) : One magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) requires two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) to balance the charges (2+ + 2(-1) = 0).
* Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) : One calcium ion (Ca²⁺) also requires two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) to balance the charges (2+ + 2(-1) = 0).
Formulas
* Magnesium Nitrate: Mg(NO₃)₂
* Calcium Nitrate: Ca(NO₃)₂
