To determine the correct chemical formula of magnesium bromide, let us break it down step by step:
1. Identify the cation and anion involved:
- Magnesium (Mg) is a metal and typically forms a cation with a charge of +2, represented as [tex]\( Mg^{2+} \)[/tex].
- Bromine (Br) is a non-metal and typically forms an anion with a charge of -1, represented as [tex]\( Br^{-} \)[/tex].
2. Determine the ratio of ions required for charge neutrality:
- To form a neutral compound, the total positive charge must balance the total negative charge.
- Magnesium has a +2 charge.
- Each bromine has a -1 charge.
3. Balance the charges:
- To balance the +2 charge of one magnesium ion ([tex]\( Mg^{2+} \)[/tex]), we need two bromide ions ([tex]\( 2 \times Br^{-} = 2 \times -1 = -2 \)[/tex]).
- Therefore, one magnesium ion will bond with two bromide ions to form a neutral compound.
4. Write the chemical formula:
- The chemical formula that represents this combination is [tex]\( MgBr_2 \)[/tex].
So, the correct answer is:
A. [tex]\( MgBr_2 \)[/tex]
