What is the empirical formula of potassium chloride?

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What is the empirical formula of potassium chloride?

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Answer 1 · 2016-02-06T02:40:12

The empirical formula for potassium chloride is $KCl$ $"KCl"$ .

Explanation:

The empirical formula for a compound is the lowest whole number ratio of elements in one molecule or formula unit of the compound. The chemical formula for an ionic compound such as $KCl$ $"KCl"$ is always the same as its empirical formula.

We can determine the empirical formula for potassium chloride by using the charges on the ions. Potassium ions have a $1 +$ $1+$ charge, and the formula $K^{+}$ $"K"^+"$ , and chloride ions have a $1 -$ $1-$ charge, and the formula ${Cl}^{-}$ $"Cl"^(-)"$ . All empirical formulas have a net charge of zero. So the ratios of the positive and negative ions must result in an overall charge of zero. In the case of potassium and chlorine, a $1 : 1$ $1:1$ ratio results in a net charge of zero. So the formula for potassium chloride is $KCl$ $"KCl"$ .

$K^{+} + {Cl}^{-}$ $"K"^++"Cl"^(-)$ $\to$ $rarr$ $KCl$ $"KCl"$

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What is the empirical formula of potassium chloride?

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