When one formula unit of Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) is dissolved in water, into how many ions does it dissociate into? 041 0 8.3 0c6 00.2
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
When one formula unit of Potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) dissolves in water, it dissociates into ions. Potassium sulfate consists of two potassium ions (K⁺) and one sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). So, the dissociation process is as follows:
K2SO4(aq)→2K+(aq)+SO42−(aq)K₂SO₄ (aq) \rightarrow 2K⁺ (aq) + SO₄²⁻ (aq)K2SO4(aq)→2K+(aq)+SO42−(aq)
Breaking this down:
- Potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) contains two potassium (K) atoms. Each potassium atom carries a +1 charge, forming K⁺ ions.
- The sulfate (SO₄) group is a polyatomic ion that carries a -2 charge, forming the SO₄²⁻ ion.
Total number of ions:
- For every one formula unit of K₂SO₄, two K⁺ ions and one SO₄²⁻ ion are produced.
- Therefore, the total number of ions produced is 3 ions (2 K⁺ ions and 1 SO₄²⁻ ion).
Explanation:
When an ionic compound like K₂SO₄ dissolves in water, the strong electrostatic forces between the positive and negative ions are overcome by the water molecules, causing the compound to dissociate. The individual ions are then surrounded by water molecules in a process called hydration. This dissociation allows the ions to move freely in the solution, which is essential for many chemical processes, such as electrical conductivity in the solution.
The correct answer is 3 ions.
This principle of dissociation is important because it helps explain why ionic compounds like K₂SO₄ are good conductors of electricity when dissolved in water: the free-moving ions facilitate the flow of electric charge.
