Question

Which statement is correct? Chlorine has seven valence electrons and will form a 7+ ion. Chlorine has seven valence electrons and will form a 7- ion. Potassium has one valence electron and will form a 1+ ion. Potassium has one valence electron and will form a 1- ion.

Answer 1

The correct statement is: Potassium has one valence electron and will form a 1+ ion, as it tends to lose one electron to become a positively charged cation (K+). Chlorine, with seven valence electrons, will gain an electron to become a negatively charged anion (Cl-).

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement among the options provided is: Potassium has one valence electron and will form a 1+ ion. Potassium (K) atoms each have one electron in their valence (outer) shell, as the atomic number of potassium is 19.

Because it is much easier for potassium to lose that one electron than to gain seven, potassium tends to donate its valence electron. The loss of an electron means potassium's ion will have more protons than electrons, resulting in a positively charged ion, known as a cation, which is notated as K+.

Furthermore, chlorine (Cl) atoms each have seven electrons in their outer shell and will gain one electron to complete their valence shell, in accordance with the octet rule, forming a chloride anion with a 1- charge. This movement of electrons from one element, such as sodium, to chlorine, results in the formation of ionic bonds.