Interpretation:
Whether potassium nitrate incorporates ionic bonding, covalent bonding or both, is to be determined.
Concept introduction:
An ionic bond is formed when two ions of opposite charges combine due to the electrostatic forces of attraction. Ionic compounds are formed when a metal reacts with a non-metal. Metals have the tendency to lose electrons. Metals lose electrons to form cations whereas non-metals gain electrons to form anions. Cations and anions attract each other and form ionic compounds.
Covalent compounds are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms. Covalent bonding usually occurs between non-metals. In covalent bonding, there is a mutual attraction between two nuclei and two electrons that reside between them.
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