Question

Is potassium hydride an ionic compound?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know that anion of hydrogen is known as hydride. The chemical formula of hydride is ${H^ - }$, and it could obtain compounds where one hydrogen center (or) more than one hydrogen center contain nucleophilic properties, reducing properties, (or) basic properties. The hydrogen is attached to a more electropositive group (or) element in such hydrides.

Complete answer:
We can classify hydrides based on their bonding types as ionic hydrides, covalent hydrides and metallic hydrides.
Ionic, or saline, hydride is a hydrogen atom bound to a very electropositive metal, by and large a soluble base metal or a basic earth metal (for instance, potassium hydride or KH). These kinds of hydrides are insoluble in customary solvents, mirroring their non-atomic designs. Most ionic hydrides exist as "binary" materials that include just two components, one of which is hydrogen. Ionic hydrides are frequently utilized as heterogeneous bases and decreasing reagents in natural blends.
Covalent hydrides allude to hydrogen focusses that react as hydrides, or those that are nucleophilic. In these substances, the hydride bond, officially, is a covalent bond similar to the bond that is made by a proton in a feeble corrosive. This class incorporates hydrides that exist as discrete atoms, polymers, oligomers, or hydrogen that has been chem-adsorbed to a surface.
Interstitial hydrides most generally exist inside metals or amalgams. Their holding is by and large thought to be metallic. Such mass progress metals structure interstitial paired hydrides when presented to hydrogen. These frameworks are generally non-stoichiometric, with variable measures of hydrogen molecules in the cross section.
We can say that potassium hydride is an ionic hydride as it contains electropositive metal which is bound to the hydrogen atom.
Yes, potassium hydride is an ionic compound where the cation is potassium and the anion is hydride, an anion of hydrogen.

Note:
We have to know that hydrides are used as reducing agents, and also as strong bases in several organic reactions. The reaction of hydrides with Bronsted acids that are weak results in liberating dihydrogen. They can also be used as catalysts and catalytic intermediates in several homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic processes.