Potassium, a silvery metal, reacts with bromine, a corrosive, reddish liquid, to yield potassium bromide, a white solid. Write the balanced equation, and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents.

Answer 1

2K + Br2 ==> 2KBr
What is oxidation? The loss of electrons. (This is also the reducing agent).
The gain of electrons is reduction. This is also the oxidizing agent.

K goes from an oxidation state of zero to +1. Br goes from an oxidation state of zero to -1.

Answer 2

Why wouldn't it be KBr? Why are the twos added? How come its not just K + Br ==> KBr since their charges cancel out? Help!

Answer 3

because Bromine is one of the 7 Diatomic molecules.....so it is understood as Br2

Answer 4

2K+Br----2kBr

Answer 5

2K(s)+Br2(1)--->2KBr(s)