When the compound MgO is formed, what occurs between magnesium and oxygen atoms?

• A. Magnesium shares electrons with oxygen to form a covalent bond.
• B. Magnesium and oxygen form a metallic bond by pooling their electrons.
• C. Magnesium loses two electrons to oxygen, forming Mg^{2+} and O^{2-} ions that bond ionically.
• D. Oxygen loses electrons to magnesium, forming O^{2+} and Mg^{2-} ions.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the types of elements involved: Magnesium (Mg) is a metal and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal.
2. Recall that metals tend to lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons.
3. Understand that when magnesium reacts with oxygen, magnesium loses two electrons to form a Mg^{2+} ion, and oxygen gains two electrons to form an O^{2-} ion.
4. Recognize that the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged Mg^{2+} ion and the negatively charged O^{2-} ion results in the formation of an ionic bond.
5. Conclude that the compound MgO is held together by ionic bonding due to the transfer of electrons from magnesium to oxygen.