Question 49

Ionic bond

When magnesium bonds with chlorine, the interaction that occurs is an ionic bond. This type of bond forms when the metal magnesium donates electrons to the nonmetal chlorine, resulting in the creation of charged ions that attract each other.

A) Covalent bond

A covalent bond occurs when two atoms share electrons. In the case of magnesium and chlorine, however, there is a transfer of electrons from magnesium to chlorine rather than sharing, making this option incorrect.

B) Metallic bond

Metallic bonds are characterized by the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of metal atoms. Since magnesium is bonding with a nonmetal (chlorine) in this scenario, a metallic bond does not apply, rendering this option incorrect.

C) Ionic bond

The bond formed between magnesium and chlorine is indeed an ionic bond, as magnesium loses two electrons to become a positively charged ion, while chlorine gains those electrons to become a negatively charged ion. This transfer creates an electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions, which is the essence of ionic bonding.

D) Hydrogen bond

Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions that typically occur between hydrogen and electronegative atoms, such as oxygen or nitrogen. Since hydrogen is not involved in the bonding between magnesium and chlorine, this option is not applicable.

Conclusion

The ionic bond is the correct answer as it accurately describes the interaction between magnesium and chlorine, characterized by the transfer of electrons and the formation of charged ions. All other options fail to represent the nature of the bond formed in this specific scenario, as they either involve electron sharing or are not relevant to the elements in question.