When one magnesium atom and two chlorine atoms transfer electrons, magnesium loses two electrons, and each chlorine gains one. What charge will magnesium have after the transfer of electrons?

The formation of magnesium chloride, MgCl2, is another example of ionic bonding. When magnesium reacts with chlorine, a magnesium atom loses two electrons and becomes a positively charged ion, Mg2+. At the same time, two chlorine atoms gain one electron each and become negatively charged chloride ions, Cl−.