Potassium forms ions with a charge of + 1 (K+). Iodine forms ions with a charge of - 1. Selenium forms ions with a charge of - 2 (Se2-). Imagine that Potassium ions and Selenide ions combine to form Potassium Selenide. What numbers would be in the place of X and Y in: KXSeY

Question

Julie Castaneda

Chemistry

18 April, 13:40

Potassium forms ions with a charge of + 1 (K+). Iodine forms ions with a charge of - 1. Selenium forms ions with a charge of - 2 (Se2-). Imagine that Potassium ions and Selenide ions combine to form Potassium Selenide. What numbers would be in the place of X and Y in: KXSeY

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Kayden Booth · Answer 1

It is given that the charge on potassium is + 1 i. e. Potassium is a cation, K⁺ and the charge on selenium is given as - 2, i. e. selenium is an anion, Se²⁻

The two ions are shown to combine to form a molecule: KXSeY where X and Y correspond to the proportions in which the two atoms combine.

Since the molecule is neutral, the positive and negative charges need to be balanced. This is possible only if 2 units of K⁺ combines with 1 unit of Se²⁻.

Therefore, the formula would be K₂Se

X = 2 and Y = 1