Question

Which of the following would be the best name for MgCl2? magnesium chlorine magnesium chloride magnesium dichloride monomagnesium dichloride

Answer 1

It would be magnesium chloride.

Chlorine is a wrong name for Cl.

Dichloride doesn't work, even though Cl2 is 2 chloride, but according to some laws of nomenclature, saying dichloride isn't necessary so we don't say it.

And monomagnesium isn't right for the same reason as above.

Answer 2

Answer: magnesium chloride

Explanation: Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound which is formed by combination of
`Mg^(2+)` and
`Cl^-` ions.

The name of the ionic compound is written as follows:

The name of the metal is written first followed by the name of the non metal without any prefix but the name of the non metal ends with ide, ite, ate or ite.

Thus the name of
`MgCl_2` is magnesium chloride.