Question

Why should magnesium form a metallic solid?

Short answer

Magnesium will then solidify into a metallic solid. Hence, magnesium forms a metallic solid.

Step-by-step solution

- Concept:

Magnesium has a ${\mathbf{\text{3s}}}^{\mathbf{\text{2}}}$ outer electronic structure. Both of these electrons delocalize, so the "sea" has twice the electron density of sodium. The remaining "ions" also have a double charge, so there will be more attraction between the "ions" and the "sea".

Magnesium forms a metallic solid:

Magnesium has two $\text{3s}$ electrons in a spherically symmetric orbit, which means they won't tend to bond covalently with the other electrons in a lattice, giving it a directional character. All of the atoms in the solid share these additional electrons. Magnesium will then solidify into a metallic solid.

Hence, magnesium forms a metallic solid.