1. Nucleus:
* Potassium (K) has an atomic number of 19, meaning it has 19 protons in its nucleus.
* It also has 20 neutrons (in its most common isotope, Potassium-39).
2. Electron Shells:
* Shell 1 (K Shell): Contains 2 electrons.
* Shell 2 (L Shell): Contains 8 electrons.
* Shell 3 (M Shell): Contains 8 electrons.
* Shell 4 (N Shell): Contains 1 electron.
Diagram:
You can visualize this as concentric circles around the nucleus, with the first circle (K shell) closest to the nucleus and the fourth circle (N shell) furthest. Each circle holds a specific number of electrons.
Important Considerations:
* The Bohr model is not completely accurate. It does not depict the actual wave-like nature of electrons or the probability of finding them in a specific region.
* The valence electron: Potassium's single electron in the outermost shell (N shell) is its valence electron. This is the electron that participates in chemical bonding.
* Reactivity: Because of its single valence electron, Potassium is highly reactive and readily forms a +1 cation by losing this electron.
Modern Atomic Theory:
While the Bohr model is a useful tool, it's important to remember that modern atomic theory describes electrons as occupying orbitals, which are regions of probability rather than fixed orbits.
