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Chapter 5: Problem 16

Why can't an ionic bond form between potassium and magnesium?

Short Answer

Expert verified
An ionic bond can't form between potassium and magnesium because they are both metals and metals tend to lose electrons and form positively charged ions. In an ionic bond, one atom must lose electrons (becoming a cation) and another must gain electrons (becoming an anion). But neither potassium nor magnesium are capable of gaining electrons, they only lose them. Therefore, no ionic bond can form between them.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Ionic Bonds

An ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. These are formed when an atom (usually a metal) loses electrons, becoming a positively charged cation, and another atom (usually a nonmetal) gains these electrons, becoming a negatively charged anion. So, ionic bonds form between atoms with different electronegativity values where one atom donates electrons to the other.
02

Describing Potassium and Magnesium

Potassium (K) is in group 1 of the Periodic Table and thus possesses one valence electron in its outermost shell that is readily lost. It forms a positive ion K^+. Magnesium (Mg), meanwhile, is in group 2 and possesses two valence electrons in its outermost shell that are readily lost. It forms a positive ion Mg^2+.
03

Explaining The Infeasibility of Ionic Bond Between Potassium and Magnesium

For an ionic bond to occur, there needs to be a transfer of electrons from one atom to another. In this case, both potassium and magnesium are metals and have a tendency to lose electrons and form positively charged ions. Neither of these ions can accept electrons to form an ionic bond. Therefore, an ionic bond cannot form between potassium and magnesium as no electron transfer can take place between two elements that want to lose electrons.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Determine the number of valence electrons in the following atoms. \begin{equation} \begin{array}{ll}{\text { a. } A l} & {\text { c. Si }} \\ {\text { b. Rb }} & {\text { d. F }}\end{array} \end{equation}

A number of homes have "hard water," which, as you learned in the Start-Up Activity, does not produce as many soap suds as water that contains fewer ions. Such homes often have water conditioners. Such remove the ions from the water, making it "softer" and more likely to produce soapsuds. Research how such water softeners operate by checking the Internet or by contacting a company that sells such devices. Design an experiment to test the effectiveness of the softener in removing ions from water.

Compound B has lower melting and boiling points than compound A does. At the same temperature, compound \(\mathrm{B}\) vaporizes faster and to a greater extent than compound A. If only one of these compounds is ionic, which one would you expect it to be? Why?

Explain the importance of lattice energy in the formation of a salt.

What does a metal atom need to do in order to form a cation?
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