Question detail
What is the charge on a potassium ion (K) after it loses one electron?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Chemical bonds, ionic, covalent and metallic
Question
- A. +1
- B. -1
- C. 0
- D. +2
Answer
+1
Explanation
Potassium (K) is in Group 1 and loses one electron, resulting in a positive ion with a charge of +1.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Ion Charges
Students often confuse the charges of ions from Group 1 and Group 2 with those from Group 6 and Group 7, leading to incorrect assignments of positive and negative charges.
Remember that Group 1 and Group 2 elements form positive ions by losing electrons, while Group 6 and Group 7 elements form negative ions by gaining electrons. Use the group number to determine the charge: Group 1 ions have a +1 charge, Group 2 ions have a +2 charge, Group 6 ions have a -2 charge, and Group 7 ions have a -1 charge.
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