What is the correct formula for potassium sulfite? A) KSO B) K,5O C) K,SO D) K,SO
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct formula for potassium sulfite is K₂SO₃.
Here’s a detailed explanation:
- Potassium (K) is an alkali metal in group 1 of the periodic table, and it forms a +1 charge when it becomes an ion (K⁺).
- Sulfite (SO₃²⁻) is a polyatomic ion consisting of one sulfur (S) atom and three oxygen (O) atoms. The sulfite ion carries a -2 charge.
To form a neutral compound, the total positive charge from the potassium ions must balance the total negative charge from the sulfite ions. Since potassium ions have a +1 charge and the sulfite ion has a -2 charge, two potassium ions are needed to balance the charges.
Thus, the correct formula is K₂SO₃, meaning two potassium ions combine with one sulfite ion to form potassium sulfite.
Breakdown of each option:
- A) KSO: This formula suggests one potassium ion and one sulfite ion. However, the charges don’t balance (K⁺ has +1 charge and SO₃²⁻ has -2 charge), so this is incorrect.
- B) K,5O: This is not a correct formula for any known compound. It includes an inappropriate comma and inconsistent notation for oxygen.
- C) K,SO: This formula is also incorrect due to a misrepresentation of the chemical formula. The correct sulfite ion is SO₃²⁻, not SO.
- D) K,SO: Same as C, it’s incorrect because it lacks the correct representation of sulfite.
The correct formula, K₂SO₃, is the balanced, neutral compound formed by potassium and sulfite ions.