`Mg^(2+)O^(2-)` is formed since : [IE = Ionization energy, EA = Electron affinity]

Options

A. IE of Mg is low
B. EA of O is low
C. IE of Mg is high
D. IE of O is low

Explanation

To understand why \( Mg^{2+} \) and \( O^{2-} \) ions are formed, we need to analyze the concepts of ionization energy (IE) and electron affinity (EA) for magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O). Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the reasoning:

### Step 1: Understanding Ionization Energy (IE)
- **Definition**: Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom.
- **For Magnesium (Mg)**: Magnesium is a metal located in Group 2 of the periodic table. Metals typically have a lower ionization energy because they tend to lose electrons easily.
- **Conclusion**: Since magnesium has a low ionization energy, it can easily lose two electrons to form \( Mg^{2+} \).

### Step 2: Understanding Electron Affinity (EA)
- **Definition**: Electron affinity is the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom. A higher electron affinity indicates a greater tendency to gain electrons.
- **For Oxygen (O)**: Oxygen is a non-metal and is highly electronegative. It has a high electron affinity because it readily gains electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration (octet).
- **Conclusion**: Oxygen can gain two electrons to form \( O^{2-} \) due to its high electron affinity.

### Step 3: Formation of Ionic Compounds
- **Ionic Bonding**: The formation of \( Mg^{2+} \) and \( O^{2-} \) leads to the creation of the ionic compound magnesium oxide (MgO).
- **Stability**: The transfer of electrons from magnesium to oxygen results in the formation of stable ions. The \( Mg^{2+} \) ion has lost two electrons, while the \( O^{2-} \) ion has gained two electrons.

### Step 4: Summary of Key Points
- **Low Ionization Energy of Mg**: This allows magnesium to lose electrons easily.
- **High Electron Affinity of O**: This allows oxygen to gain electrons easily.
- **Resulting Ions**: The combination of these two tendencies results in the formation of \( Mg^{2+} \) and \( O^{2-} \).

### Final Conclusion
The formation of \( Mg^{2+} \) and \( O^{2-} \) is primarily due to the low ionization energy of magnesium and the high electron affinity of oxygen, leading to the stable ionic compound \( MgO \).

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