The correct name for K2SO4 is Group of answer choices potassium sulfite. potassium tetrasulfoxygen. potassium sulfide. potassium sulfate.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct name for K₂SO₄ is potassium sulfate.
Explanation:
K₂SO₄ is a chemical compound consisting of potassium (K) and the polyatomic ion sulfate (SO₄²⁻).
Step-by-step breakdown:
- Potassium (K):
- Potassium is an alkali metal found in Group 1 of the periodic table.
- It forms a +1 ion (K⁺) when it loses one electron.
- Sulfate Ion (SO₄²⁻):
- The sulfate ion is a common polyatomic ion with the formula SO₄²⁻.
- It consists of one sulfur atom bonded to four oxygen atoms.
- The overall charge on the sulfate ion is -2.
- Balancing Charges:
- Each potassium ion carries a +1 charge.
- The sulfate ion carries a -2 charge.
- To balance the overall charges, two potassium ions are needed for every sulfate ion.
- This gives the formula K₂SO₄.
- Naming the Compound:
- The name of an ionic compound comes from the name of the cation (metal) followed by the name of the anion (non-metal or polyatomic ion).
- The metal, potassium, keeps its elemental name.
- The polyatomic ion, SO₄²⁻, is called sulfate.
- Therefore, K₂SO₄ is named potassium sulfate.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- Potassium sulfite: Incorrect. Sulfite has the formula SO₃²⁻, not SO₄²⁻.
- Potassium tetrasulfoxygen: Incorrect. There is no such standard nomenclature term as tetrasulfoxygen.
- Potassium sulfide: Incorrect. Sulfide refers to S²⁻, not the polyatomic sulfate ion.
Thus, based on correct chemical nomenclature, the correct name for K₂SO₄ is potassium sulfate.
