Textbook Question
What is the difference between an acid and a base?
Ch.3 Ionic Compounds
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 57a
Write equations for the loss of an electron by a K atom and the gain of an electron by a K+ ion.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the problem. The problem involves writing two equations: one for the loss of an electron by a potassium (K) atom and another for the gain of an electron by a potassium ion (K⁺). These are oxidation and reduction processes, respectively.
Step 2: Write the equation for the loss of an electron by a K atom. When a neutral potassium atom loses one electron, it becomes a positively charged potassium ion (K⁺). The equation can be written as: .
Step 3: Write the equation for the gain of an electron by a K⁺ ion. When a positively charged potassium ion (K⁺) gains one electron, it becomes a neutral potassium atom. The equation can be written as: .
Step 4: Verify the equations. Ensure that the charges and the number of particles are balanced on both sides of each equation. For the first equation, the charge changes from 0 to +1, and for the second equation, the charge changes from +1 to 0, which is consistent with the processes described.
Step 5: Review the concepts. The loss of an electron is called oxidation, and the gain of an electron is called reduction. These processes are part of redox reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between species.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Ionization Energy
Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion in its gaseous state. For a potassium (K) atom, this process involves overcoming the attractive force between the negatively charged electron and the positively charged nucleus. The equation for this process can be represented as K(g) → K⁺(g) + e⁻, indicating that an electron is lost, resulting in a positively charged ion.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:13
Periodic Trend: Ionization Energy (Simplified) Concept 1
Electron Affinity
Electron affinity refers to the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a neutral atom in the gaseous state. For a potassium ion (K⁺), gaining an electron results in the formation of a neutral potassium atom. This process can be represented by the equation K⁺(g) + e⁻ → K(g), where energy is typically released, indicating that the ion is more stable after gaining an electron.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:56Periodic Trend: Electron Affinity (Simplified) Concept 1
Charge Conservation
Charge conservation is a fundamental principle in chemistry and physics stating that the total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant. In the context of the given question, when a K atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged (K⁺), while the electron itself carries a negative charge. Similarly, when K⁺ gains an electron, the overall charge is balanced, maintaining the conservation of charge throughout the processes.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:48Law of Conservation of Mass
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following ions are likely to form? Explain.
a. Li2+
b. K-
c. Mn3+
d. Zn4+
e. Ne+
2
views
Textbook Question
Write the electron configurations of Co, Co2+, and Co3+.
1
views
Textbook Question
Explain why the hydride ion, H-, has a noble gas configuration.
Textbook Question
The elements in red in the periodic table can form cations having more than one charge. Write the formulas and names of the compounds that are formed between the red cations and the blue anions depicted in the periodic table.
1
views
Textbook Question
Write equations to show how the substances listed in Problem 3.75 give ions when dissolved in water.
a. H2CO3
b. HCN
c. Mg(OH)2
d. KOH
1
views