Magnesium chloride is an example of an ionic compound which means a compound composed of

Magnesium chloride is an ionic compound which means a compound composed of an anion and cation. A cation is a positively charged atom and this happens when it loses an electron. An anion is a negatively charged ion. It becomes negatively charged when it gains and electron When magnesium reacts with chlorine gas, magnesium gives up its two electrons found in its outermost energy shell and thus become a positively charged ion (cation). Chlorine gas on the other hand gains these two electrons to become negatively charged ion (anion). The opposite charges of these two elements cause them to attract each other creating ionic bonding between them and thus form a new compound, magnesium chloride.