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   K

POTASSIUM

(English potash, pot ashes, L. kalium, Arab. qali, alkali)

K  at. wt. 39.102
   at. no. 19
   m.p. 63.65°C
   b.p. 774°C 
   sp. gr. 0.862 (20°C)
   valence 1.
Electronic configuration
 SHELL  K L M N O P Q
 SUB  SHELL He Neon Argon Krypton Xenon Radon Eka-radon
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 5s 5p 4f 5d 6s 6p 5f 6d 7s 7p
Potassium 1s22s22p63s23p6  4s1      
Symbol 2S½
Potassium was discovered in 1807 by Davy, who obtained it from caustic potash (KOH); this was the first metal isolated by electrol- ysis. The metal is the seventh most abundant and makes up about 2.4% by weight of the earth's crust. Most potassium minerals are insoluble and the metal is obtained from them only with great difficulty. Certain minerals, however, such as sylvite, carnallite, langbeinite, and polyhalite are found in ancient lake and sea beds and form rather extensive deposits from which potassium and its salts can readily be obtained. Potash is mined in Germany ,New Mexico, California, Utah, and elsewhere. Large deposits of potash, found at a depth, of some 3000 ft. in Saskatchewan, promise to be important in coming years. Potassium is also found in the ocean, but is present only in relatively small amounts, compared to sodium. The greatest demand for potash has been in its use for fertilizers. Potassium is an essential constituent for plant growth and it is found in most soils. Potassium is never found free in nature, but is obtained by electrolysis of the hydroxide, much in the same manner as prepared by Davy. Thermal methods also are commonly used to produce potas- sium (such as by reduction of k'otassium compounds with CaC2, C, Si, or Na). Itis one of the most reactive and electro- positive of metals; except for lithium, it is the lightest known metal. It is soft, easily cut with a knife, and is silvery in appearance immediately after a fresh surface is exposed. It rapidly oxidizes in air and must be preserved in a mineral oil, such as kerosene. As with other metals of the alkali group, it decomposes in water with the evolution of hydrogen. It catches fire spontaneously on water. Potassium and its salts impart a violet color to flames. Ten isotopes of potassium are known. Ordinary potassium is composed of three isotopes, one of which is K40 (0.00118%), a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 1.28 x l0~ yrs. The radioactivity presents no appreciable hazard. An alloy of sodium and potassium (NaK) is used as a heat-transfer medium. Many potassium salts are of utmost importance. These include the hydroxide, nitrate, carbonate, chloride, chlorate, bromide, iodide, cyan- ide, sulfate, chromate, and dichromate. Metallic potassium is available commercially for about $2/lb. in quantity.

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