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QuestionChemistry

What is the chemical formula for a compound made of magnesium ions Mg^2 + and oxygen ions O^2−?
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Answer

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Step 1:
I'll solve this step-by-step using proper chemical notation and LaTeX formatting:

Step 2:
: Identify the ions

- Magnesium ion: $$Mg^{2+}
- Oxygen ion: O^{2 -}

Step 3:
: Determine the charge balance

- Magnesium ion has a charge of $$+2
- Oxygen ion has a charge of - 2

Step 4:
: Calculate the ratio of ions needed to balance charges

- $$2 \times O^{2-}$$ provides $$-4$$ charge
- We need to find the simplest whole number ratio that makes the total charge zero

Step 5:
: Write the chemical formula

- The balanced formula will be $$Mg_{2}O_{2}
- This can be simplified to MgO

Final Answer

The chemical formula for the compound made of magnesium and oxygen ions is MgO (magnesium oxide).