What is the combination reaction for #K(s) +Cl_2(g)#?

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Jul 28, 2016

#2"K"_ ((s)) + "Cl"_ (2(g)) -> 2"KCl"_ ((s))#

Explanation:

Potassium metal, #"K"#, can be ignited in the presence of chlorine gas, #"Cl"_2#, to produce potassium chloride, #"KCl"#, an ionic compound.

Potassium chloride's lattice structure looks like this

![www.chm.bris.ac.uk)

Here each potassium cation, shown here in dark gray, is surrounded by six chloride anions, shown here in green.

The balanced chemical equation that describes this synthesis reaction, also known as a combination reaction, looks like this

#2"K"_ ((s)) + "Cl"_ (2(g)) -> 2"KCl"_ ((s))#

You can also think about this reaction in terms of oxidation and reduction. Here potassium metal is being oxidized to potassium cations, #"K"^(+)#, and chlorine is being reduced to chlorine anions, #"Cl"^(-)#.

#2stackrel(color(blue)(0))"K"_ ((s)) + stackrel(color(blue)(0))"Cl"_ (2(g)) -> 2stackrel(color(blue)(+1))("K")stackrel(color(blue)(-1))("Cl")_ ((s))#

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