What is a magnesium alkoxide?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2016

A magnesium alkoxide is the magnesium salt of an alcohol.

Explanation:

An alkoxide ion "RO"^"-" is the conjugate base of an alcohol ("ROH"), where "R" is any alkyl group.

underbrace("ROH")_color(red)("acid") + "H"_2"O" ⇌ underbrace("RO"^"-")_color(red)("conjugate base") + "H"_3"O"^"+"

The general formula for a salt is "M"_text(a)"X"_text(b), where "M" is the metal cation, "X" is the anion, and "a" and "b" are integers.

Magnesium ion is "Mg"^(2+), and alkoxide is "RO"^"-".

∴ The formula for a magnesium alkoxide is "Mg(OR)"_2.