DRAW IT Draw the hydration shells that form around a potassium ion and a chloride ion when potassium chloride (KCl) dissolves in water. Label the positive, negative, and partial charges on the atoms.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of hydration shells. When ionic compounds like KCl dissolve in water, the ions are surrounded by water molecules. This is because water is a polar molecule, with a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and partial positive charges near the hydrogen atoms.
2. Step 2: Draw the potassium ion (K+). Potassium ion is a cation with a positive charge. Since it has a positive charge, it will attract the partial negative charges of the oxygen atoms of the water molecules.
3. Step 3: Arrange water molecules around the potassium ion. Draw several water molecules around the potassium ion with the oxygen end (negative) facing towards the potassium ion. This arrangement forms the hydration shell around the potassium ion.
4. Step 4: Draw the chloride ion (Cl-). Chloride ion is an anion with a negative charge. It will attract the partial positive charges of the hydrogen atoms of the water molecules.
5. Step 5: Arrange water molecules around the chloride ion. Draw several water molecules around the chloride ion with the hydrogen ends (positive) facing towards the chloride ion. This arrangement forms the hydration shell around the chloride ion.

Key Concepts

Hydration Shells

Hydration shells are layers of water molecules that surround ions when they dissolve in water. The polar nature of water molecules allows them to interact with charged ions, forming a structured arrangement where the positive ends of water molecules (hydrogens) are attracted to negatively charged ions, and the negative ends (oxygens) are attracted to positively charged ions.

Ionic Compounds in Water

Ionic compounds, like potassium chloride (KCl), dissociate into their constituent ions when dissolved in water. This process occurs because the attractive forces between the ions are overcome by the interactions with water molecules, leading to the separation of potassium ions (K+) and chloride ions (Cl-), which then become surrounded by hydration shells.

Charge Distribution in Water Molecules

Water molecules are polar, meaning they have a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. This charge distribution is crucial for the formation of hydration shells, as it allows water molecules to orient themselves around ions based on their charge, effectively stabilizing the ions in solution.