What is the oxidation state of potassium (K) in compounds?

The oxidation state of potassium (K) in compounds is typically +1. This is because potassium is an alkali metal, and alkali metals generally have a single electron in their outer shell. When potassium forms compounds, it tends to lose this electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, resulting in a +1 charge.

For example, in potassium chloride (KCl), potassium donates one electron to chlorine, which allows potassium to achieve a +1 oxidation state. This behavior is consistent across most of the compounds formed by potassium, with very few exceptions where it might display a different oxidation state under unusual conditions. However, in general terms, you can confidently say that the oxidation state of potassium in its compounds is +1.

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