Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Magnesium iodide is an ionic compound with the formula MgI2. It consists of magnesium cations (Mg2+) and iodide anions (I-) held together by electrostatic forces.
Ionic bonding occurs when there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions that are held together by electrostatic forces.
Double Displacement Reaction: A double displacement reaction involves the exchange of positive ions between two compounds, resulting in the formation of two new compounds. The reaction between silver nitrate and magnesium iodide is an example of a double displacement reaction.
Spectator ions are ions that do not participate in the chemical reaction. In the net ionic equation, spectator ions are excluded to focus on the species that undergo a change.