KCl readily dissolves in water because

Options

A. it is a salt of K
B. it reacts with water
C. it is an electrovalent compound
D. its ions are easily solvated.

Explanation

To understand why KCl readily dissolves in water, we can break down the explanation into several steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Nature of KCl**:
- KCl (potassium chloride) is an ionic compound formed from potassium ions (K⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).

2. **Understand Ionic Bonds**:
- Ionic bonds are formed between electropositive (K⁺) and electronegative (Cl⁻) elements. Potassium, being an alkali metal, loses one electron to form a positive ion, while chlorine gains an electron to form a negative ion.

3. **Polarity of Water**:
- Water (H₂O) is a polar solvent, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one side (hydrogens) and a partial negative charge on the other side (oxygen). This polarity allows water to interact effectively with ionic compounds.

4. **Dissolution Process**:
- When KCl is added to water, the polar water molecules surround the K⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. The positive end of the water molecules (hydrogens) is attracted to the Cl⁻ ions, while the negative end (oxygen) is attracted to the K⁺ ions.

5. **Solvation of Ions**:
- The attraction between the water molecules and the ions leads to the solvation (or hydration) of the ions. This process helps to separate the ions from the ionic lattice of KCl.

6. **Result of Dissolution**:
- As a result of this solvation, KCl dissociates into its constituent ions (K⁺ and Cl⁻), allowing it to dissolve readily in water.

### Conclusion:
KCl readily dissolves in water primarily because its ions are easily solvated due to the polar nature of water and the ionic bonds present in KCl.

### Final Answer:
KCl readily dissolves in water because its ions are easily solvated in the polar solvent.

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