Before you work on this prelesson you have to understand ions. Please complete all the Ionic Notation study helps and come back here afterward.

1. Make a balanced ionic compound from magnesium and oxygen.
   
   Step 1 - Write the chemical symbols for the elements.
   
   Which of the following is correct?

   1.   ?    Mg O
   2.   ?    M O
   3.   ?    Mn O
   4.   ?    Na Ox

2. Make a balanced ionic compound from magnesium and oxygen.
   
   Mg O
   
   Step 2: Write the charges (oxidation numbers) to the upper right of each chemical symbol.
   (Need help with oxidation numbers: click here.)
   
   Which of the following is correct?

   1.   ?    Mg²⁺ O^2-
   2.   ?    Mg¹⁺ O^6-
   3.   ?    Mg^1- O²⁺
   4.   ?    Mg¹²⁺ O^8-
   5.   ?    Na²⁺ O^1-
   6.   ?    Na³⁺ O^2-

3. Make a balanced ionic compound from sodium and oxygen.
   
   Mg²⁺ O^2-
   
   Step 3: Find the net charge. (Need help with net charge: click here.)
   
   Which of the following is correct?

   1.   ?    Net charge = -1
   2.   ?    Net charge = +1
   3.   ?    Net charge = 0
   4.   ?    Net charge = +2
   5.   ?    Net charge = -2

4. Make a balanced ionic compound from sodium and oxygen.
   
   Mg²⁺ O^2-
   
   So, if the net charge = 0, what will it attract?

   1.   ?    nothing
   2.   ?    positives
   3.   ?    negatives

5. Make a balanced ionic compound from sodium and oxygen.
   
   Mg²⁺ O^2-
   
   So, if the net charge = 0, what will it attract? - Nothing
   
   So, what do you do next?

   1.   ?    Nothing it is balanced already.
   2.   ?    Add another magnesium atom.
   3.   ?    Add another oxygen atom.