Question

How are potassium atoms formed from potassium ions?

Answer 1

Hint: The ions are formed when there is either addition of electrons or a subtraction of electrons. If there are extra electrons then it can be removed or we have lesser electrons then we can add electrons. This removal or addition of electrons is there for attaining the octet rule.

Complete step by step answer:
- The ions are formed when there is either addition of electrons or subtraction of electrons. If there are extra electrons then it can be removed or we have lesser electrons then we can add electrons. If the element has any charge on the symbol then it is an ion, if the charge is positive then there is the removal of electrons and if there is a negative charge on the symbol then there is the addition of electrons.
- Potassium is the element of group1 of the s-block of the 3rd period, so its atomic number is 19. Therefore, there is one valence electron in its shell. There is one positive charge on the potassium atom, so the potassium ion is written as $K^{+}$.
- In order to convert this ion to the elemental state, we have to abolish this charge on the potassium ion. Since there is only a single charge on the potassium ion, we can add one electron to remove this charge. Therefore, when we add one electron to the potassium ion we can convert it into a potassium atom having the symbol K.

Note: If there is a +2 charge on the ion then we can add 2 electrons to convert it into the atom, if there is a -1 charge then we have to remove one electron and if the charge on the ion is -2 then we have to remove 2 electrons to convert it into atoms.