Final answer:
Potassium oxide is an ionic compound formed between the metal potassium (K+) and the nonmetal oxygen (O2-).
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether a compound is ionic or covalent, we look at the types of atoms involved. Ionic bonds typically form between metals and nonmetals, whereas covalent bonds form between nonmetals.
Potassium oxide (K2O) is a compound formed between potassium (K), which is a metal in group 1 of the periodic table, and oxygen (O), which is a nonmetal in group 16. Therefore, potassium oxide is an ionic compound. The ions involved are K+ (potassium ion) and O2- (oxide ion).