Question

In a sample of potassium metals, how many electrons does an atom of potassium contribute to the sea of delocalized electrons?

Answer 1

ANSWER

Potassium will contribute one electron to the sea delocalized electrons

EXPLANATION

Potassium is a group one metal and it has an atomic number is 19.

The electronic configuration of potassium is given below

$\text{ }_{19}\text{K}_\text{ }\rightarrow\text{ 1s}^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^1$

In the configuration above, potassium has one electron at it outermost shell. This implies that the valence electron of potassium is 1

Potassium is readily to lose one electron to to attain it octet structure

Therefore, potassium will contribute one electron to the sea delocalized electrons