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potassium Definition

po·tas·sium (pə tasē əm)

noun

a soft, silver-white, waxlike metallic chemical element, one of the alkali metals, that oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air: it occurs abundantly in nature in the form of its salts, which are used in fertilizers, glass, etc.: symbol, K; at. no., 19

Etymology: ModL: so named (1807) < potassa < Du potasch, potash, by Humphrey Sir Humphry Davy, who first isolated it from potash

potassium Related Forms
po·tas·sic adjective
potassium Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • contain: Wood ashes contain soluble potassium which reaches the plant quickly.
  • increase: Fortunately, it's easy to increase the potassium in your diet.

Preposition: in

  • blood: Incorrect diet causes a deficiency in potassium in the blood.

Adjective modifier

  • phosphorous: We basically just do not show any deficiencies of phosphorous, potassium, sodium, sulfur, chloride or fluoride.
  • extracellular: Characteristic changes in extracellular potassium, sodium and hydrogen ion concentrations are usually diagnostic.
  • low: High blood pressure accompanied by low potassium is the usual set of findings that lead the doctor to check these two tests.
  • high: However, I had no luxury of having anything high potassium.
  • much: Too much potassium can cause an irregular heart beat.

Modifies a noun

  • permanganate: I gave the shank a quick wipe down with potassium permanganate solution to make the patterns stand out.
  • iodide: Finally, 1 to 2 grams of potassium iodide, dissolved in a little water, are added to produce a clearer film.
  • manganate(vii: Bottles of potassium manganate(VII ) solution usually have a brown precipitate around the top.
  • hydroxide: Potassium hydroxide solution removes the cytoplasm from the root cells.
  • chloride: She was given a lethal dose of potassium chloride.
  • dichromate(vi: Potassium dichromate(VI ) does not suffer from this disadvantage.

Noun used with modifier

  • serum: A drop in serum potassium may account for some of the symptoms.
  • plasma: This is the main reason why the plasma potassium level is seen to fall in patients having a large diuresis.
  • sodium: The liquid sodium potassium alloy has been drained from the cooling system and is awaiting decontamination.
  • blood: Also, many patients with proven Conn's syndrome do not have a low blood potassium level.
  • soil: This requires a high level of easily available soil potassium.
  • %: Vita Link Buddy Another PK boost, 7.2 % Phosphorous, 4.8 % Potassium.