• Magnesium ions are highly polarising. This is due to magnesium ions being relatively small with a highly positive charge of +2. Smaller, positively charged ions are more polarising.

• Chloride ions become polarised. Magnesium ions can closely approach the electron density of the negative chloride ions and polarise their charge. Chlorine ions are large and hence are easily polarised. Larger, positively charged ions are more polarisable.

• This phenomenon approaches electron sharing. Charge polarisation allows there to be a degree of sharing of electrons, representing some covalent bonding, rather than pure ionic bonding.

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