Question

Potassium sulfite is often used as an additive to preserve food. What is the chemical formula for potassium

sulfite? Refer to the list of polyatomic ions and the periodic table to determine the charges.
KSO3
KSO4
K₂SO3
K₂SO4

Answer 1

The chemical formula for potassium sulfite is K2SO3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chemical formula for potassium sulfite is K2SO3.

This is determined by the charges of the polyatomic ions involved. The potassium ion (K+) has a charge of +1, and the sulfite ion (SO3^2-) has a charge of -2. Since the charges must balance out in a compound, two potassium ions are needed to balance the charge of the sulfite ion, resulting in the formula K2SO3.

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