Magnesium and fluorine atoms will most likely form an ionic bond. Magnesium is a metal that readily loses electrons to achieve a stable configuration, while fluorine is a highly electronegative nonmetal that readily gains electrons. When Mg transfers two electrons (one from each of its two valence electrons from the outer shell) to two fluorine atoms, Mg becomes Mg2+ and each F becomes F−. The resulting electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions forms an ionic bond, producing magnesium fluoride (MgF2) as the compound. This behavior aligns with general patterns where metals + highly electronegative nonmetals form predominantly ionic compounds.