polassium atom (atomic number 19) loses an tectron while forming a bond with another atom. Which best describes the polassium ion that forms? It is a negative ion that has one less valence electron than a neutral potassium atom. It is a negative ion that has one more valence electron than a neutral potassium atom. It is a positive ion that has one less valence electron than a nestral potassium atom. It is a positive ion that has one more valence electron than a neural potassium atom.

## Step 1<br />The problem involves the behavior of a potassium atom (with atomic number 18) when it forms a bond with another atom. Specifically, it loses an electron. <br /><br />## Step 2<br />Atoms become ions by either gaining or losing electrons. When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positive ion, also known as a cation. This is because the number of protons (which are positively charged) in the atom's nucleus now exceeds the number of electrons (which are negatively charged), resulting in a net positive charge.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />In the case of a potassium atom, it has one electron in its outermost shell, also known as the valence electron. When it loses this electron, it has one less valence electron than a neutral potassium atom.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Therefore, the potassium ion that forms is a positive ion that has one less valence electron than a neutral potassium atom.