1. Determine the Charges:
* Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is in group 2 of the periodic table, so it forms a +2 ion (Mg²⁺).
* Chlorine (Cl): Chlorine is in group 17 of the periodic table, so it forms a -1 ion (Cl⁻).
2. Balance the Charges:
To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must cancel out. We need two chloride ions (2 x -1 = -2) to balance the +2 charge of the magnesium ion.
3. Write the Formula:
The formula for the compound is MgCl₂.
