When potassium chloride (KCl) dissolves in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions. This process is known as dissociation or ionization. In the case of KCl, it separates into potassium ions (K⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).
Here is a step-by-step explanation:
1. Dissociation of KCl: When KCl dissolves in water, the ionic bond between potassium (K) and chlorine (Cl) atoms breaks.
2. Formation of Ions: The potassium atom loses one electron to become a positively charged ion (K⁺). The chlorine atom gains one electron to become a negatively charged ion (Cl⁻).
3. Aqueous Solution: The ions are now surrounded by water molecules, a process known as hydration. This stabilizes the ions in the solution and prevents them from recombining into solid KCl.
The chemical equation for the dissociation process is:
[tex]\[ \text{KCl (s)} \rightarrow \text{K}^+ (\text{aq}) + \text{Cl}^- (\text{aq}) \][/tex]
Based on this explanation, when KCl dissolves in water, the following will be produced:
b. K⁺ and Cl⁻
