Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the correct name for the compound with the formula MgI_2?
A
Magnesium diiodide
B
Magnesium(II) iodide
C
Magnesium iodine
D
Magnesium iodide
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the elements in the compound: Mg (magnesium) and I (iodine).
Determine the type of compound: Magnesium is a metal and iodine is a nonmetal, so this is an ionic compound.
Recall the naming convention for ionic compounds: The metal (cation) is named first using its elemental name, and the nonmetal (anion) is named second with the suffix '-ide'.
Since magnesium typically forms a +2 charge (Mg^{2+}) and iodine forms a -1 charge (I^{-}), the formula MgI_2 indicates two iodide ions balance one magnesium ion.
Therefore, the correct name is 'magnesium iodide' without prefixes or Roman numerals, because magnesium has a fixed charge and the compound is ionic.