What is the balanced chemical equation that describes the dissociation of the strong base magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2 in water?

The equation is ##”Mg(OH)”_2″(s)” ⇌ “Mg”^”2+””(aq)” + “2OH”^”-“”(aq)”##.

## “Mg(OH)”_2## is a .

##”Mg”## is a Group 2 Metal, so it form ##”Mg”^”2+”## ions. Each ion pairs up with two ##”OH”^”-“## ions to form the neutral compound, ## “Mg(OH)”_2##.

Magnesium hydroxide is “insoluble”, so only a small amount it goes into solution. But every bit that goes into solution dissociates into ##”Mg”^”2+”## ions and ##”OH”^”-“## ions.

There is a between the solid compound and the ions in solution.

##”Mg(OH)”_2″(s)” ⇌ “Mg”^”2+””(aq)” + “2OH”^”-“”(aq)”##

The ##”Mg”^”2+”## ions and the ##”OH”^”-“## ions are leaving the surface of the solid at the same rate as they return from the solution to the surface of the solid.

Here’s a video showing the process.