Question

based on periodic trends, which of the following diagrams best depicts the structure of the ionic solid kcl? choose 1 answer:

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze ion - size relationship

In KCl, $K^+$ is a larger cation and $Cl^-$ is an anion. The ionic radius of $K^+$ is larger than that of $Na^+$ but smaller than some larger cations. $Cl^-$ is a relatively large anion. In an ionic solid, cations and anions are arranged to maximize the electrostatic attraction and minimize repulsion. The cations and anions should be in an alternating pattern.

Step2: Evaluate each option

• Option A: The pattern has large cations grouped together in some areas, which is not energetically favorable due to cation - cation repulsion.
• Option B: This option shows an alternating pattern of cations (+) and anions (-) with appropriate relative sizes of $K^+$ (larger circles) and $Cl^-$ (smaller circles), which is consistent with the structure of an ionic solid like KCl.
• Option C: The relative sizes of the circles representing cations and anions seem off as the cations appear too small compared to the anions for KCl.
• Option D: Similar to option A, there are regions where cations are grouped closely together, which is not ideal for an ionic lattice.

Answer:

B.