In a potassium chloride molecule, does chlorine lose or gain an electron?

Question

since potassium has only one valence electron, i believed that chlorine would lost an electron. but wikipedia states that a chloride ion is when the element chlorine picks up an electron!

im super confused! please help?

Answer 1

first off, potassium chloride is not a molecule. ionic compounds are composed of ions not molecules.the reaction between potassium and chlorine ,potassium will donate its valence shell electron to chlorine.the potassium will become a K^+ ion and the chlorine atom will become a chloride ion(Cl^-). reason: potassium is a stronger reducing agent than chlorine therefore it will donate its electrons to any element that is a weaker reducing agent, in this case chlorine. equation:2K(s)+Cl2(g)=2KCl(s) or K^+Cl^-

Answer 2

Chlorine would gain the valance electron that potassium has, making both stable.

Answer 3

Potassium has one valence electron and a full shell underneath, while chlorine has 7 valence electrons and needs 8 to get the full shell. So, if the potassium loses an electron and the chlorine gains an electron, they're both stable.