The chemical formula of calcium chloride is `CaCl_2` .
Calcium is a metal and has an atomic number of 20. Its electronic configuration is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2. It has 2 valence electrons, which it donates to achieve fully filled electronic state or noble gas configuration. In comparison, chlorine (a non-metal) has an atomic number of 17 and has an electronic configuration of 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p5. Chlorine has 7 valence electrons and accepts 1 electron to achieve noble gas configuration. Now, chlorine is much more electronegative as compared to calcium and hence will accept electrons donated by calcium. Since, calcium donates 2 electrons and chlorine can accept only 1 electron, 2 chlorine atoms form an ionic bond with 1 atom of calcium to yield calcium chloride, CaCl2.
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