When determining the correct formula for magnesium chloride, we need to consider the charges of the ions involved.
1. Magnesium (Mg) forms a divalent cation, which means it has a charge of [tex]\(\text{Mg}^{2+}\)[/tex].
2. Chloride (Cl) forms a monovalent anion, which means it has a charge of [tex]\(\text{Cl}^{-}\)[/tex].
To balance the total positive and negative charges in the compound, the total charge from the cations must equal the total charge from the anions. Since magnesium has a charge of +2, and each chloride ion has a charge of -1, we need two chloride ions to balance the charge of one magnesium ion.
Therefore, the correct formula that neutralizes the charges is:
[tex]\[
\text{MgCl}_2
\][/tex]
So, the correct answer is:
[tex]$MgCl _2$[/tex]
