* Ionic Compounds: MgSO₄ is formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) and negatively charged sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻).
* Electron Configuration of Ions: The electron configuration of the ions is what matters:
* Mg²⁺: Magnesium loses two electrons to form a cation, so its electron configuration becomes the same as Neon (Ne): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
* SO₄²⁻: The sulfate ion is more complex, but its overall electron configuration is not simply the sum of its individual atoms. It involves the bonding and sharing of electrons within the molecule.
In summary: It's not meaningful to talk about the electron configuration of MgSO₄ as a whole. Instead, you can look at the electron configurations of the individual ions that make it up.
