Question

Which type of bond is there between atoms of potassium and chloride when they form a crystal of potassium chloride?
(A) Hydrogen
(B) Ionic
(C) Polar covalent
(D) Pure covalent
(E) metallic

Answer 1

To answer this question you should recall the concept of bonding. Chemical Bonding is a process where there is a formation of a bond between two or more atoms, molecules, or ions to give rise to a new chemical compound. Mainly oppositely charged ions form ionic bonds, while atoms with similar electronegativity form covalent bonds.

Complete step by step solution:
In case of bonding in potassium chloride, the potassium atom first loses an electron resulting in the formation of potassium ion with a positive charge while the chlorine atom gains that electron to form the chloride ion with a single negative charge. This formation of bonds where there is the transference of electrons is known as ionic bonding. More charge disparity more the strength between the two atoms, i.e. the greater the charge disparity between the cation and the anion, the stronger the ionic bond.
Hence, the correct answer to this question is option B.

Note:
In ideal cases, it can be said that any bond is hundred percent ionic or covalent. But in reality, any bond shows partial ionic and covalent character. The components of any molecular: the cations polarize the anions and try to pull the electronic charge towards themselves and this increases the electric charge between the two ions. This is the case with a covalent bond, that is an electron charge density is built up around the nuclei. Hanny and smith proposed a formula for calculation of ionic character. Fajan’s rule is based on the fact that:
Smaller the size of cation, more large the size of the anion will result in a more covalent character of the ionic bond.
More the charge density of cation, greater is the covalent character of the ionic bond.
Electronic configuration: For cations with same charge and size, the one, with which is found in transition elements have greater covalent character than the cation with electronic configuration, generally present s- block elements.