Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Potassium fluoride is a compound made up of potassium (K) and fluoride (F) ions. It is commonly used as a source of fluoride in toothpaste and other dental products.
Related terms
Ionic bond: An ionic bond is the attraction between positively charged metal ions and negatively charged nonmetal ions. In the case of potassium fluoride, the ionic bond forms between the potassium cation (K+) and the fluoride anion (F-).
Potassium: Potassium is an element with atomic number 19. It belongs to Group 1 on the periodic table and has one valence electron. It reacts readily with other elements to form compounds.
Fluoride: Fluoride is a halogen element with atomic number 9. It belongs to Group 17 on the periodic table and has seven valence electrons. Fluoride ion (F-) is negatively charged due to gaining one electron.