Question

Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) has one potassium atom bonded to carbon, and that carbon is also bonded to three oxygens. Their electronegativities are shown in the list:

K: 0.82
C: 2.55
O: 3.44
How would you describe the bonds (K–C and C–O) in this molecule?

1: K-C is iconic, and C-O is covalent
2: K-C is iconic, and C-O is nonpolar covalent
3: K-C is polar covalent, and C-O is nonpolar covalent
4: K-C is polar covalent, and C-O is polar covalent

Answer 1

Based on the electronegativity difference between them, K-C is ionic, and C-O is polar covalent.

What is a bond?

A bond is formed by the interaction of two atoms. A bond can be either ionic or covalent.

Now we have to look at the electronegatives on each bond. The electronegativity difference between the K-C bond is larger than that between the C-O bond hence, K-C is ionic, and C-O is polar covalent.

Step-by-step explanation: