Chapter 8, Problem 26A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Potassium atom reacts with non metal sulfur atom, the number of electrons potassium lost and number of electrons sulfur gain needs to be determined. The number of potassium atoms will react to give electrons for one sulfur atom and the charges of potassium and sulfur ions have needs to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Metal has tendency to loss their electrons whereas non metals has tendency to gain those electrons.

Answer to Problem 26A

Two potassium atoms lose two electrons and one sulfur atom gains two electrons.

The K atom would have a +1 charge and the S atom would have a -2 charge.

Explanation of Solution

Potassium is a metal which has tendency to loss electron and sulfur is non metal which has tendency to gain those electrons.

Potassium has tendency to lose one electron from their valence shell and form noble gas configuration.

While sulfur atom need to gain two electrons to become neutrally charged.

So, two potassium atoms lose two electrons and one sulfur atom gains two electrons.

The reaction is shown below:

  $\text{2K}\text{+}\text{S}\to {\text{K}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}$

The K atom would have a +1 charge and the S atom would have a -2 charge.

The reaction is shown below:

  ${\text{K}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}\to {\text{2K}}^{\text{+}}\text{+}{\text{S}}^{\text{2-}}$

Conclusion

Two potassium atoms lose two electrons and one sulfur atom gains two electrons.

The K atom would have a +1 charge and the S atom would have a -2 charge.