Magnesium reacts with a certain element to form a compound with the general formula MgX. What would the most likely formula be for the compound formed between Lithium and element X?

Explanation: Valency can be defined as the combining power of an element. It is the valency that dictates the value an element will have when writing a chemical formula for its compound.

MgX is a compound of magnesium and an element X. The valency of magnesium in most of its compound is +2. Now for the 2 to have been absent in the chemical formula, this shows that the element X itself have a valency if -2 for the valencies of both to have canceled out.

Now considering the element potassium, it is an alkaline metal belonging to group 1 of the periodic table. Hence, it is expected that it has a valency of +1

Forming a compound with element X means there would be an exchange of valencies between the two. We have established that x has a valency of -2. The formula of the compound thus formed by exchanging the valencies of both element would be K2X