what is the charge on potassium in the compound kcl
KCl is potassium chloride. Potassium is an alkali metal that needs to lose one valence electron to expose a full outer shell. Chloride is a halide that needs to gain one valence electron to fill its outer shell. Potassium will 'donate' an electron to chloride, which results in potassium having a 1+ charge and chloride having a 1- charge.