In: Chemistry
why is it unlikely for magnesium to form a cation with a charge of 1+?
Mg+ has an electronic configuration: 1s22s22p63s1
Mg2+ has an electronic configuration: 1s22s22p63s0
Mg2+ has stable electronic configuration (noble gas configuration) than Mg+
That's why Magnesium prefer +2 oxidation state than +1 oxidation state.