Chemistry S & P Block Elements UHS 2022
PMDC Verified Question 45 of 104
Which statement describes the conversion of magnesium atoms to magnesium ions for ionic bond formation with chlorine?
A
The change is reduction, because there has been a gain of electrons
B
The change is oxidation, because there has been a loss of electrons
C
The change is reduction, because there has been a loss of electrons
D
The change is oxidation, because there has been a gain of electrons
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: The change is oxidation, because there has been a loss of electrons
Concept:

In redox chemistry, the fundamental definitions of oxidation and reduction track the movement of electrons (often remembered by the mnemonic "OIL RIG").

Solution:

  • Oxidation Is Loss of electrons.
  • Reduction Is Gain of electrons.
  • Magnesium is a Group II-A metal with 2 valence electrons (\( \text{Mg} \)).
  • To form an ionic bond with chlorine, a neutral Magnesium atom must lose its two valence electrons to become a stable \( \text{Mg}^{2+} \) cation.

    $$ \text{Mg} \longrightarrow \text{Mg}^{2+} + 2e^- $$

  • Because the Magnesium atom has lost electrons, the process is definitively classified as oxidation.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Options A and C use the wrong terminology entirely. Option D incorrectly pairs oxidation with the gain of electrons.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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