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How many electrons does each magnesium atom lose when magnesium oxide forms?
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When magnesium oxide (MgO) forms, each magnesium atom loses two electrons.
In chemical compounds, magnesium typically exhibits a +2 oxidation state due to the loss or sharing of its two 3s electrons. This process is a characteristic feature of an oxidation-reduction reaction, where the oxidation number of the participating species changes as electrons are transferred.12