What is K

[Ellis Song 4I]

What exactly is just K compared to Kc and Kp

[Justin Seok 2A]

K is pretty much a more ambiguous term than either Kc or Kp. Often times when K is used, it should be pretty apparent whether Kc or Kp should be used, like with Kp when you are given partial pressures or Kc when there are no gas-phase reactants or products.

[Eunice Nguyen 4I]

K is just equilibrium constant (also referred to as Keq). Kc refers to when you're using aqueous reactants/products, whereas you'd use Kp for gaseous reactions.

[Kate Swertfager]

I think of K as the blanket term for the equilibrium constant. Then more specifically we have Kc, Kp and Kw which are all slightly different but refer to the equilibrium constant as well.

[Jaci Glassick 2G]

K is the equilibrium constants. Kc, Kp, Kw are just different "types"/"ways" of finding K. With Kc, you use concentrations of the products and reactants (Kc=P/R). With Kp, you use partial pressures (Kp=Pp/Pr).

[Jasmine Vallarta 2L]

K can represent both Kc and Kp. Kc is specific to a species' concentration and Kp is for a gas' partial pressure.

[preyasikumar_2L]

I'm pretty sure K_c, K_p, K_w, K_eq, K_a, K_b, etc are all different ways to clarify K, the equilibrium constant, by what is being used to calculate that value.
K_c is the equilibrium constant that is calculated using the concentrations of aqueous substances or gases of a system at equilibrium.
K_p is the equilibrium constant that is calculated using the partial pressures of gases of a system at equilibrium.
K_w is the equilibrium constant of pure water (in the reaction where H₂O(l) <--> H₃O⁺(aq) + OH^-(aq))
K_eq is another way to say K, the equilibrium constant.
(I think, please correct me if I'm wrong) K_a and K_b are the equilibrium constants of systems that involve the creation/dissociation(?) of acids and bases respectively.