What are potassium properties?

Potassium is a clear silver element that is a very light metal, with only lithium lighter and is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It is strongly ionic, has 24 known isotopes and quickly combines with oxygen when exposed to air. Pure potassium also has an exothermic response to water contact, separates hydrogen gas and ignites it due to the heat generated in the process. The potassium element has violent reactions with several compounds, as well as its close relative sodium. When it comes into contact with halogens, bromine and sulfuric acid, it can explode, so it needs to be treated with extreme care. This makes it important in biological functions such as cardiac and muscle contractions. In fact, potassium chloride is used to stop the heart during heart surgery. It has also been used in high quantities since 1982 as a form of deadly injection for prisoners sentenced to death in the United States, with China after practice in 1997 and other nations later.

The correct amount of potassium in the body is affected by sodium and magnesium levels, and if these levels are higher, more potassium is sometimes necessary for their balance. Since potassium concentrations can be very important, health conditions defining low levels, called hypokalaemia and high levels called hyperkalaemia, have been determined in medicine. Most people in their diet have enough potassium for health as they are in all red masses and a wide range of fruits and vegetables.

Since 2006, more than 95% of the potassium produced around the world have been used as agricultural fertilizer, and most of them were potassium chloride. The potassium properties make it an important nutrient in plants in other ionized Forms, as well as potassium sulphate and potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate is also used as a key component in gunpowder and to strengthen glass. Together Canada and Russia produce about half of the world every yearIt is estimated that Canada has 59.8% of the world's metal reserves, with Russia 13.6%.

One of the unique physical properties of potassium is its ability to act as a super oxide. Ko 2 was used in Russian vostok , soyuz and another spacecraft as an oxygen generating compound. The properties of potassium hydroxide make it a strong base material used in many laboratory experiments to neutralize various acids. The diverse properties of potassium in combination with other elements make it a versatile chemical for everything from the production of inks to gold mining and baking bread.

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