Is potassium iodide classified as an acid, a base, or a salt? Explain.

Potassium iodide (KI) is classified as a salt. It is formed when an acid and a base react with each other, specifically from the neutralization of hydroiodic acid (HI) and potassium hydroxide (KOH).

To understand this better, let’s break it down:

• Acids and Bases: In the case of potassium iodide, HI is the acid, and KOH is the base. When they react, they produce water and potassium iodide.
• Neutralization Reaction: The reaction can be represented as follows:

 HI (aq) + KOH (aq) → KI (s) + H2O (l) 

• Definition of a Salt: A salt is defined as the product of the reaction between an acid and a base, which usually consists of a cation from the base and an anion from the acid. In this case, potassium (K⁺) is the cation from the base and iodide (I^–) is the anion from the acid, forming the ionic compound potassium iodide.

Therefore, potassium iodide is not an acid or a base; it is a salt that forms when potassium ions combine with iodide ions through a neutralization reaction. This characteristic makes potassium iodide useful in various applications, including as a dietary supplement for iodine.