Question

What occurs when potassium reacts with chlorine to form potassium chloride?

Answer 1

Answer: The electrons get transferred from potassium to chlorine to form potassium chloride

Explanation:

Ionic bond is defined as the bond which is formed by complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another atom.

The atom which looses the electron is known as electropositive atom and the atom which gains the electron is known as electronegative atom. This bond is usually formed between a metal and a non-metal.

Potassium is the 19th element of the periodic table having electronic configuration of $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^1$

This element will loose 1 electron to form $K^+$ ion

Chlorine is the 17th element of the periodic table having electronic configuration of $1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^5$

This element will gain 1 electron to form $Cl^-$ ion

By criss-cross method, the oxidation state of the ions gets exchanged and they form the subscripts of the other ions. This results in the formation of a neutral compound.

The ionic compound formed will have a chemical formula of KCl

Hence, the electrons get transferred from potassium to chlorine to form potassium chloride

Answer 2

The potassium will donate one of its valence electrons