Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

2. Atoms and the Periodic Table

Ions and the Octet Rule (Simplified)

GOB Chemistry

2. Atoms and the Periodic Table

Ions and the Octet Rule (Simplified)

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3:17 minutes

Problem 93a

Textbook Question

How does the octet rule explain the formation of a magnesium ion?

Verified step by step guidance

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration with eight valence electrons, similar to the nearest noble gas.

Magnesium (Mg) is in Group 2 of the periodic table and has an electron configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s². It has two valence electrons in the 3s orbital.

To achieve a stable octet, magnesium can lose its two valence electrons, resulting in a full outer shell (2s² 2p⁶), which matches the electron configuration of neon (Ne), a noble gas.

When magnesium loses two electrons, it forms a positively charged ion, Mg²⁺, because the loss of electrons leaves it with more protons than electrons.

Thus, the octet rule explains the formation of a magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) as the atom loses two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to a noble gas.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Octet Rule

The octet rule is a chemical principle stating that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of eight electrons, resembling the electron configuration of noble gases. This rule helps explain the stability of atoms and their tendency to form ions or covalent bonds.

Magnesium Ion Formation

Magnesium, with an atomic number of 12, has two electrons in its outermost shell. To achieve a stable octet configuration, magnesium tends to lose these two valence electrons, resulting in the formation of a positively charged magnesium ion (Mg²⁺). This loss of electrons allows magnesium to attain a stable electron configuration similar to neon.

Ionic Bonding

Ionic bonding occurs when atoms transfer electrons to achieve full outer shells, leading to the formation of charged ions. In the case of magnesium, when it loses its two electrons, it can bond with nonmetals like chlorine, which gain electrons, resulting in the formation of ionic compounds such as magnesium chloride (MgCl₂). This process illustrates the practical application of the octet rule in chemical bonding.

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