answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Potassium consists of potassium atoms with their valence electrons delocalized throughout the metal, put those electrons still essentially "belong" to their atoms.

A potassium ion is a potassium atom that has lost its valence electron to another atom molecule or ion and therefore carries a 1+ charge.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

An ionic potassium ion has bonded ionically so it loses or gains electrons to make a new shell, this makes it stable and gives it a positive or negative overall charge depending on the electrons it loses or gains

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

A potassium atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. A potassium ion has the same number of protons as the potassium atom but one less electrons.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
  • atom is neutral/uncharged
  • ion is charged, positive in the case of metal ions like potassium
This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Potassium atom does not have a charge. Potassium ion has a charge of +1.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Potassium ion is formed when potassium atom donates its outermost electron and acquire positive charge.Potassium is very reactive in nature.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

jesus

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How is a potassium atom (K) different from a potassium ion (K )?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

When a potassium atom forms an ion it loses one electron what is the electrical charge of the potassium ion?

K+


What type of ion does potassium form?

Potassium has to lose 1 electron in order to form an ion. Once it does, it is known as a cation (ion with a positive charge,) and its symbol is K+


What is the charge of the ion formed when a potassium atom loses one electron?

K+ ions


When fluorine atom gains an electron it forms?

When a fluorine atom gains an electron, it forms a negative ion.


What is the chemical ion formula for potassium?

The Chemical Formula for Potassium Ion is K+.


How many electrons in potassium?

Potassium is a metal element. There are 19 electrons in a single atom.


What is the symbol and name for the cation formed when a potassium atom loses one electron?

The symbol for the cation formed when a potassium atom loses one electron is K+, and is named the potassium ion.


Is K plus a polyatomic ion?

no. Polyatomic means more than one atom, K+ is just the potassium element


How does potassium become an ion?

When a potassium atom becomes an ion, the potassium atom donates one of its electrons, specifically the only electron in its valence shell, to another more electronegative atoms. The original potassium atom then becomes a potassium cation with formula K+.


What is the formula for the ionic compounds K and I?

The ion for Potassium has a charge of 1+.The ion for Iodine has a charge of 1-.This means that in order to make the overall charge of a unit of a compound of Potassium and Iodine, there must be one atom of Potassium and one atom of Iodine.Therefore, when K+ and I- are bonded, they make the ionic compound of KI.


What is the formula for the ionic compound K plus and I?

The ion for Potassium has a charge of 1+.The ion for Iodine has a charge of 1-.This means that in order to make the overall charge of a unit of a compound of Potassium and Iodine, there must be one atom of Potassium and one atom of Iodine.Therefore, when K+ and I- are bonded, they make the ionic compound of KI.


What is the chemical formula for sulfate ion and a Potassium ion?

The potassium ion is K+ and the sulfate ion is SO42-