Chapter 18.3, Problem 14PP

To determine

The formula for potassium sulfide.

Answer to Problem 14PP

The formula for potassium sulfur is ${\text{K}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The compound ispotassium sulfide.

Calculation:

Potassium sulfide consists of two elements that means potassium and sulfur. Potassium belongs to group 1 and it has 1 electron in the outermost shell. Sulfur belongs to the group of 16 and it has 6 electrons in the outermost shell.

Potassium loses its outermost electron to attain noble gas configuration and oxygen needs 2 electrons to attain noble gas configuration. The electronic configuration of potassium is 2.8.8.1 and sulfur is 2.8.6. The charge of potassium is +1 and sulfur is -2.

Cross multiply the charges and the formula for potassium sulfur is obtained as ${\text{K}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}$ .

Conclusion:

Thus, the formula for potassium sulfur is ${\text{K}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}$ .