Will magnesium and fluorine atoms most likely form an ionic bond or a covalent bond?
Write the name and formula of the compound made of magnesium and fluorine.
Answer (1)
Magnesium and fluorine form a bond with an electronegativity difference of 2.67.
Since the electronegativity difference is greater than 1.7, the bond is ionic.
Magnesium loses two electrons (Mg 2 + ), and fluorine gains one electron (F − ), resulting in the formula MgF 2 .
The name of the compound is magnesium fluoride: ma g n es i u m f l u or i d e .
Explanation
Problem Analysis Let's analyze the problem. We need to determine the type of bond formed between magnesium (Mg) and fluorine (F) atoms, and then write the name and formula of the resulting compound. To do this, we'll use the electronegativity difference between the two elements.
Electronegativity Difference The electronegativity of magnesium (Mg) is 1.31, and the electronegativity of fluorine (F) is 3.98. The difference in electronegativity is calculated as: 3.98 − 1.31 = 2.67
Type of Bond Since the electronegativity difference (2.67) is greater than 1.7, the bond formed between magnesium and fluorine is an ionic bond. Ionic bonds typically form when there's a large difference in electronegativity, leading to the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
Determining the Formula Magnesium (Mg) loses two electrons to form a Mg 2 + ion, while fluorine (F) gains one electron to form a F − ion. To balance the charges, we need two fluorine ions for every magnesium ion. Therefore, the formula of the compound is MgF 2 .
Naming the Compound The name of the compound formed between magnesium and fluorine is magnesium fluoride. We name ionic compounds by stating the name of the metal (magnesium) followed by the name of the nonmetal (fluorine) with the suffix '-ide' added.
Final Answer In summary, magnesium and fluorine atoms will most likely form an ionic bond. The formula of the compound is MgF 2 , and its name is magnesium fluoride.
Examples
Ionic compounds like magnesium fluoride have various applications. For example, magnesium fluoride is used in optics as a coating for lenses due to its transparency over a wide range of wavelengths. Similarly, understanding ionic bonding helps in designing materials with specific electrical and thermal properties. This knowledge is crucial in fields like materials science and chemical engineering, where the properties of compounds are tailored for specific applications.
