What is the possible charge of the bromine, Br and possible charge of the element Mg ?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Answer:
- The possible charge of bromine (Br) is -1 (usually forms Br⁻ ion).
- The possible charge of magnesium (Mg) is +2 (usually forms Mg²⁺ ion).
Explanation:
Bromine (Br):
Bromine is a halogen and is found in Group 17 (or Group VIIA) of the periodic table. Halogens have seven electrons in their outermost shell (valence electrons). To achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to the nearest noble gas (which has a full octet of 8 electrons), bromine tends to gain one electron. This gain of one electron results in a bromide ion (Br⁻) with a charge of -1.
The negative charge indicates that bromine now has one more electron than protons, giving it a net negative charge. This behavior is typical of halogens because they have high electronegativity and a strong tendency to attract electrons.
Magnesium (Mg):
Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal located in Group 2 (or Group IIA) of the periodic table. It has two electrons in its outermost shell. Metals in this group tend to lose their valence electrons to achieve the electron configuration of the previous noble gas, which is a full octet in the shell beneath.
When magnesium loses these two valence electrons, it forms a magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) with a charge of +2. The positive charge indicates that magnesium has two more protons than electrons. Losing electrons makes it more stable because it achieves a noble gas electron configuration (like neon).
Summary:
- Bromine usually gains one electron → Br⁻ with charge -1.
- Magnesium usually loses two electrons → Mg²⁺ with charge +2.
This behavior reflects the general tendency of elements to form ions that achieve the stable electron configuration of a noble gas, following the octet rule. This is why bromine is typically an anion with a negative charge, and magnesium is typically a cation with a positive charge.