What's the difference between atomic structure magnesium and magnesium plus 2 ion

1 answer

The main difference between the atomic structure of magnesium and magnesium ion with a +2 charge lies in the number of electrons present in their outermost shell.

- Atomic structure of magnesium: Magnesium has an atomic number of 12, which means it has 12 protons and 12 electrons in its neutral state. In its ground state, the electron configuration of magnesium is 2-8-2. This means it has two electrons in its outermost shell, which is why it is located in group 2 of the periodic table.

- Magnesium ion with a +2 charge: When magnesium loses two electrons from its outer shell, it forms a magnesium ion with a +2 charge. This means the magnesium ion now has 10 electrons in its outermost shell, giving it a stable electron configuration of 2-8, similar to the nearest noble gas, neon.

Overall, the main difference between the atomic structure of magnesium and magnesium ion with a +2 charge is the number of electrons in their outermost shell, which affects their chemical properties and reactivity.