Potassium definition

pə-tăsē-əm
The definition of potassium is an alkali metal.
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Its symbol is K, which is Latin for kalium.
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It has an atomic number of 19.
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Potassium reacts violently to water which makes hydrogen. During the process, there is enough heat generated to ignite the hydrogen.
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In nature, potassium is found in ionic salts, just like sodium.
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It is a very soft, light silvered colored metal that tarnishes quickly in air into a gray color.
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When it is burned, the flame is a light purple.
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Most of the potassium produced in the world is used by the fertilizer industry.
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It helps the nerves and muscles do their job, to maintain the proper acid-base balance, and can lower blood pressure.
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Some medications interfere in potassium levels including ACE inhibitors, Heparin, Bactrim or Septra, Cyclosporine, Beta Blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

An example of potassium is the mineral found in dried apricots and raisins.

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A soft, silver-white, extremely reactive element that is an alkali metal, is essential to plant and animal cell functions, and occurs in nature only in compounds. It can be obtained by electrolysis of its hydroxide and is found in, or converted to, a wide variety of salts used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.5°C; boiling point 759°C; specific gravity 0.86; valence 1.
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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
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A soft, silver-white, extremely reactive element that is an alkali metal, is essential to plant and animal cell functions, and occurs in nature only in compounds. It can be obtained by electrolysis of its hydroxide and is found in, or converted to, a wide variety of salts used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.5C; boiling point 759C; specific gravity 0.86; valence 1; symbol K.
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A soft, highly reactive, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group occurring in nature only in compounds. It is essential for the growth of plants and is used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.65°C; boiling point 774°C; specific gravity 0.862; valence 1.
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A soft, waxy, silvery reactive metal that is never found unbound in nature; an element (symbol K) with an atomic number of 19 and atomic weight of 39.0983. The symbol is derived from the Latin kalium.
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(physics) The major stable isotope of potassium, 3919K, having nineteen protons and twenty neutrons; it amounts to over 93% of the element in nature.
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(physics) A naturally-occurring radioactive isotope of potassium, 4019K, having nineteen protons and twenty-one neutrons, and a half-life of 1.3 billion years; it is the chief source of natural radioactivity in living tissue.
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(physics) An artificially produced radioactive isotope of potassium, 4219K, having a half-life of 12.4 hours; used in medicine as a tracer.
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(physics) An artificially produced radioactive isotope of potassium, 4319K, having a half-life of 22 hours; used in medicine as a tracer.
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Before the 19th century, it was thought that sodium and potassium were the same.
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Origin of potassium

  • From earlier potass potash (from which it was first obtained) from French potasse from Dutch potas pot pot (from Middle Dutch) (Old English pott) as ash (from Middle Dutch asche as- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From potassa (“potash") + -ium.

    From Wiktionary

Potassium Sentence Examples

  • It is slightly soluble in potassium sulphide.

  • On oxidation with potassium permanganate it is converted into acetyl urea, together with other products.

  • The yellow precipitate obtained is washed with a solution of potassium acetate and finally with dilute alcohol.

  • It is insoluble in dilute acids, but is readily soluble in excess of potassium cyanide.

  • This acid may also be prepared by the electrolysis of concentrated sulphuric acid, and it is distinguishable from persulphuric acid by the fact that it immediately liberates iodine from potassium iodide.

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Words near potassium in the Dictionary