What Is Potassium?

Potassium Kalium ^[1] is a silver-white soft metal, waxy, can be cut with a knife, has a low melting point, has a lower density than water, and is extremely reactive (more active than sodium). It is one of the elements of group IA and belongs to the alkali metal. There is no elemental form of potassium in nature. Potassium is widely distributed in land and sea in the form of salt. It is also one of the important components of human muscle and nerve tissue.

Saltpeter

Potassium is a silver-white cube-shaped metal with physical and chemical properties very similar to sodium. Potassium is soft and light and can be cut with a small knife. The new cut surface has a silvery white luster.

Potassium

Potassium oxide

Potassium oxide

Crust

Potassium compounds have long been used by humans. Due to the extremely active chemical properties of potassium, potassium exists only in the form of compounds in nature. It has been known in ancient times that potassium alkaloid (ie, potassium carbonate) exists in plant ash and can be used as a detergent. Potassium nitrate is also used as

Electrolytic method is used to produce metal sodium, but this method cannot be used in the production of potassium metal, because potassium is too easy to dissolve in molten KCl and cannot be separated.

Potassium metal is very active and needs to be isolated from air and water. Potassium and sodium are generally stored in kerosene and liquid paraffin.

Potassium metal is often immersed in kerosene or paraffin oil

The storage warehouse should be ventilated and dried at low temperature; stored separately from acids and oxidants.

Storage and use must pay attention to safety, fire caused by potassium metal, can not be extinguished with water or foam extinguishing agents, but use sodium carbonate dry powder. Potassium is also very corrosive to the skin.