e.g.

magnesium + chlorine ==> magnesium chloride MgCl2 or ionic formula Mg2+(Cl )2

In terms of electron arrangement in the formation of the ionic compound magnesiu
m chloride, the magnesium donates its two outer electrons to two chlorine atoms
forming a double positive magnesium ion and two single negative chloride ions vi
a electron transfer.
The atoms have become stable ions, because electronically, magnesium becomes lik
e neon and chlorine like argon.
Mg (2.8.2) + 2Cl (2.8.7) ==> Mg2+ (2.8) 2Cl (2.8.8)
can be summarised electronically as [2,8,2] + 2[2,8,7] ==> [2,8]2+ [2,8,8] 2 via
electron transfer
so both the magnesium and chloride ions have a full outer shell of electrons lik
e a noble gas
ONE atom combines withTWO atoms to form
Note in this electron diagram, only the original outer electrons are shown above
.
The outer electrons of the magnesium atoms (2.8.2) are transferred to the outer
shell of the chlorine atom (2.8.7) giving it a complete octet shell of outer ele
ctrons, just like a noble gas (2.8.8). At the same time, the magnesium ion also
attains a stable noble gas electron structure (2.8).
NOTE
You can draw two separate chloride ions, but in these examples square brackets a
nd a number subscript have been used, as in ordinary chemical formula.
The valency of Mg is 2 and chlorine 1, i.e. the numerical charges of the ions.
Beryllium fluoride BeF2, magnesium bromide MgBr2, calcium chloride CaCl2 or bari
um iodide BaI2 etc. will all be electronically similar.
represents the full electronic structure diagram of the magnesium ion [2.8] and
the chloride ion [2.8.8], hence the full electronic structure of magnesium chlo
ride.
Note that the 'blob' and 'x' electrons are identical, but their use is just a us
eful visual device to show how the ion is formed. The blue circle represents the
nucleus.
The electronic dot & cross Lewis diagram for the ionic bonding in magnesium chlo
ride

Ca is 2.8.8.2, Cl is 2.8.7, F is 2.7 rest of dot and cross diagrams are up to yo

u, but calcium chloride is shown below.
The calcium atoms transfer their two outer electrons to the outer shell of two c
hlorine atoms
calcium chloride

The electronic dot & cross Lewis diagram for the ionic bonding in calcium chlori
de
The two outer electrons of the calcium atoms (2.8.8.2) are transferred to the ou
ter shell of two chlorine atoms (2.8.7) until it has a complete octet shell of o
uter electrons, just like a noble gas (2.8.8). At the same time, the calcium ion
also attains a stable noble gas electron structure (2.8.8). The blue circle rep
resents the nucleus.
Gp2\7 F
Mg
MgF2
Ca
CaF2
Sr
SrF2
Ba
BaF2
All the formula
ium chloride or

Cl
Br
I
MgCl2 MgBr2 MgI2
CaCl2 CaBr2 CaI2
SrCl2 SrBr2 SrI2
BaCl2 BaBr2 BaI2
highlighted in yellow can be described in the same way as magnes
calcium chloride

The Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metal atom loses two electrons to form a doubly charg
ed positive ion
The Group 7 Halogen atom gains one electron to form a singly charged negative io
n

Example 3: A Group 3 metal + a Group 7 non metal

e.g. aluminium + fluorine ==> aluminium fluoride AlF3 or ionic formula Al3+(F )3
In terms of electron arrangement in the formation of the ionic compound aluminiu
m fluoride, the aluminium donates its three outer electrons to three fluorine at
oms forming a triple positive aluminium ion and three single negative fluoride i
ons.
The atoms have become stable ions, because aluminium and fluorine becomes electr
onically like neon via electron transfer.
Valency of Al is 3 and F is 1, i.e. equal to the charges on the ions.
Al (2.8.3) + 3F (2.7) ==> Al3+ (2.8) 3F (2.8)
can be summarised electronically as [2,8,3] + 3[2,7] ==> [2,8]3+ [2,8] 3
so both the aluminium and fluoride ions have a full outer shell like a noble gas
ONE atom combines withTHREE atoms to form
Note in this electron diagram, only the original outer electrons are shown above
.
The outer electrons of the aluminium atom (2.8.3) is transferred to the outer sh
ell of the fluorine atoms (2.7) giving them a complete octet shell of outer elec
trons, just like a noble gas (2.8). At the same time, the aluminium ion also att
ains a stable noble gas electron structure (2.8).

full electronic structure diagram of aluminium fluoride, the blue circle represe
nts the nucleus.

The electronic dot & cross Lewis diagram for the ionic bonding in aluminium fluo
ride
Solid aluminium chloride/bromide/iodide have similar formula but are covalent wh
en vapourised into Al2X6 dimer molecules, but AlCl3 has an ionic lattice in the
solid, not sure on solid AlBr3 and AlI3, but these points are best left for an a
dvanced AS A2 chemistry discussion, not for GCSE students!