What is the Ionic Bonding between Potassium and Fluorine?
1 Answer
A potassium atom has one valence electron in its outermost (fourth) energy level, and fluorine has seven valence electrons in its outermost (second) energy level. In order to obtain eight valence electrons (an octet), the potassium atom will transfer its single valence electron to the fluorine atom. This gives potassium eight valence electrons in its third energy level, and fluorine eight valence electrons in its second energy level. This also produces a potassium cation with a
The oppositely charged ions form an electrostatic attraction, which is the ionic bond. The compound potassium fluoride
