Potassium meaning
The definition of potassium is an alkali metal.
noun
Its symbol is K, which is Latin for kalium.
noun
It has an atomic number of 19.
noun
Potassium reacts violently to water which makes hydrogen. During the process, there is enough heat generated to ignite the hydrogen.
noun
Before the 19th century, it was thought that sodium and potassium were the same.
noun
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In nature, potassium is found in ionic salts, just like sodium.
noun
It is a very soft, light silvered colored metal that tarnishes quickly in air into a gray color.
noun
When it is burned, the flame is a light purple.
noun
Most of the potassium produced in the world is used by the fertilizer industry.
noun
It helps the nerves and muscles do their job, to maintain the proper acid-base balance, and can lower blood pressure.
noun
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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.
noun
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.
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
noun
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.
noun
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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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