If the charge on the chloride ion is -1, what is the charge on the magnesium ion in the compound MgCl2?

+2

Explanation:

Because the charge of the chloride ion is negative, that means that the charge of the magnesium ion must be positive since cations and anions go together, not cation and cation nor anion and anion. Using the "reverse criss-cross method", since the subscript of Mg is 1, that means that this is the lowest whole number ratio so we don't need to worry about simplifying. Therefore, since the charge of Cl is 2, the answer is +2.