Question

What is the name of the compound formed by combining potassium (K) with iodine (I) to form KI?

Answer 1

Hint: Iodine belongs to the group 7 elements that are all reactive non-metals. They react with metals to form metal halides. KI is an inorganic compound that is constituted by an ionic bond between potassium $\left({\text{K}}^{+}\right)$ and iodide ions $\left({\text{I}}^{-}\right)$.

Complete answer:
Potassium iodide is an inorganic chemical compound that is represented by the chemical formula KI. It is colourless to white in colour and has a highly bitter, saline taste.
As the formula suggests it is a metal-halide salt having an ionic bond between the potassium cation $\left({\text{K}}^{+}\right)$and the iodide anion $\left({\text{I}}^{-}\right)$. This compound is prepared by mixing iodine and potassium hydroxide.
This compound is used as an iodide source in several synthesis reactions.
The naming of ionic compounds is done by writing a cationic metal atom name followed by the anionic non-metal atom’s name with suffix -ide added at the end of it. Thus, the name of KI compound would be – Potassium iodide.
There are several uses of KI, some of them are listed below:
- It is used as a nutritional supplement.
- It is used in table salt as the most common additive.
- It is used to avoid the loss of iodine due to oxidation from salts.

Note:
Iodine is a natural pure element present in the second last group of the periodic table. However, the molecular form, which consists of two atoms of iodine bonded together, is not found in nature. Iodide salt, for example, KI, can be found in seaweed sources and mineral deposits.