To determine whether magnesium (Mg) and fluorine (F) atoms will form an ionic or covalent bond, we need to look at the electronegativities of the two elements:
1. Electronegativity of Magnesium (Mg):
- Magnesium has an electronegativity of about 1.31.
2. Electronegativity of Fluorine (F):
- Fluorine has an electronegativity of about 3.98.
3. Calculate the Difference in Electronegativity:
- The difference in electronegativity between magnesium and fluorine is found by subtracting the electronegativity of magnesium from that of fluorine:
[tex]\[
\text{Electronegativity Difference} = 3.98 - 1.31 = 2.67
\][/tex]
4. Determine the Type of Bond:
- Generally, if the difference in electronegativity between two atoms is greater than 1.7, the bond is likely to be ionic. If the difference is less than 1.7, the bond is likely to be covalent.
- In this case, the electronegativity difference is 2.67, which is greater than 1.7.
Therefore, given that the difference in electronegativity is 2.67, magnesium and fluorine atoms will most likely form an ionic bond.
