Valency of Magnesium (Mg)
The valency of Magnesium is 2 — it has 2 valence electrons, and it loses them to complete its outer shell.
Looking for Magnesium's valency without wading through a whole chapter? Here is the direct answer first, then the tables and derivations examiners want to see. Every number on this page comes from the same engine that powers the interactive table. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Magnesium page is one click away.
Counting the valence electrons
From the configuration [Ne] 3s^2, Magnesium's outermost shell carries 2 electrons. These are the electrons shown as dots in electron-dot diagrams — the hands Magnesium uses to hold other atoms.
Position check: Magnesium belongs to group 2 of the periodic table, period 3.
Valency vs valence electrons
Valence electrons are what you count (2 for Magnesium); valency is what the atom will do to complete its outer shell (2 here). Keep the two words straight and half the periodic-table chapter writes itself.
Students also ask
How do I find the valency of Magnesium from its group?
Magnesium sits in group 2; groups 1–2 metals have valency equal to the group number — 2 here.
Why does Magnesium show a fixed valency?
Magnesium has 2 valence electrons and reaches a complete outer shell in one consistent way, so its valency stays fixed at 2.