Chemical Bond Chemistry Example 3

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Example 3

easy
Will potassium (K) and bromine (Br) form an ionic or covalent bond? Explain.

Solution

  1. 1
    K is a metal (Group 1) and Br is a nonmetal (Group 17).
  2. 2
    Metals and nonmetals typically form ionic bonds through electron transfer. K loses 1 electron to become K+\text{K}^+, and Br gains 1 to become Br\text{Br}^-.

Answer

Ionic bond: KBr\text{Ionic bond: KBr}
The metal-nonmetal combination and large electronegativity difference both indicate ionic bonding.

About Chemical Bond

A lasting force of attraction between atoms that holds them together in molecules, compounds, or crystal lattices, formed when atoms share electrons (covalent bond), transfer.

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