Final answer:
Potassium reacts with chlorine in a synthesis reaction to form potassium chloride, with the balanced chemical equation being 2K + Cl₂ → 2KCl.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word equation for the reaction when potassium burns in a gas jar of chlorine is a synthesis reaction, and the balanced chemical equation is: 2K(s) + Cl₂(g) → 2KCl(s). This means that two potassium atoms react with one molecule of chlorine gas to form two units of potassium chloride.