Question

When a potassium atom reacts with bromine, the potassium atom will
a.lose only 1 electron
b.lose 2 electrons
c.gain only 1 electron
d.gain 2 electrons?

Answer 1

The potassium will lose an electron and the bromine will gain one. This works because it gives them both a noble gas base, which is extremely stable.

For future reference, these are the most common stable configurations: Noble Gas Core (far right on periodic table), half filled shells, empty shells, and eright electrons in a D electron cloud (transition metals, aka b section or numbers 3 - 12 on modern tables)

Answer 2

Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

An ionic bond is generally formed by a metal and a non-metal de to transfer of electrons from metal to the non-metal.

For example, potassium is an alkali metal with atomic number 19 and its electronic distribution is 2, 8, 8, 1.

And, bromine is a non-metal with atomic number 35 and it has 7 valence electrons.

So, in order to complete their octet potassium needs to lose an electron and bromine needs to gain an electron.

Hence, both of them on chemically combining together results in the formation of an ionic compound that is, potassium bromide (KBr).

Thus, we can conclude that when a potassium atom reacts with bromine, the potassium atom will lose only 1 electron.