[chay722]

Which describes the behavior of potassium metal during a chemical reaction?
1. Neutral atoms become ions with a 1 + charge.
2. Neutral atoms take on protons.
3. Neutral atoms become ions with a corresponding increase in radius.

I know that potassium metal has a charge of  +1 so that means it wants to give this proton away to become neutral, so I don't exactly understand what this question is asking. Thank you for any help.

Answer choices-
a. 1 only
b. 1 and 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 2 and 3 only
e. 1,2, and 3

[Kryolith]

alkali metals are elements and have no charge. a chemical reaction does not change the number of protons. That would convert the element to an other one. But what can an alkali metal do to get a noble gas configuration?

[chay722]

an alkali metal can gain 1 electron to get a noble gas configuration?

[Kryolith]

A noble gas, except helium has how many valence electrons again?

[chay722]

a noble gas has 8 valence electrons, so an alkali metal would need to gain 9 electrons because it has 1 proton at the moment. that doesn't sound right though because you said potassium doesn't have a charge as an element. sorry I'm confused.

[Kryolith]

a noble gas has 8 valence electrons

That's correct. (He has 2)

But you mix up protons and electron configuration in your post. The number of protons defines the element, it will never change in a chemical reaction. Alkali metals are in the 1st main group so they have 1 valence electron. To get a noble gas configuration they could either accept X electrons or donate Y electrons.

What's X? What's Y? Which process occurs?

[chay722]

ah yes I saw my mistake. thank you. well um the alkali metal could accept 7 electrons or give up 1, so does this mean neutral atoms could become ions with a 1+ charge or that neutral atoms become ions with a corresponding increase in radius (I'm not sure when that occurs) thank you for the help.

[Kryolith]

ah yes I saw my mistake. thank you. well um the alkali metal could accept 7 electrons or give up 1, so does this mean neutral atoms could become ions with a 1+ charge or that neutral atoms become ions with a corresponding increase in radius (I'm not sure when that occurs) thank you for the help.

Alkali metals tend to lose 1 electron. An alkali metal cation (charge +1) has a smaller radius