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What the name
means: The word potassium was
probably derived from potash which
literally means “ashes in a pot”. When
plant material was burnt in pots it left
ash that was made of a mixture of potassium
and sodium carbonates. These ashes could be
processed into soap.
The chemically symbol
for potassium is K and it represents the word Kalium (used in Northern European
countries). This derives from the Arabic
word al-quali, meaning the ash (left
after roasting).
Who identified
potassium? It was Humphry Davy who,
in 1807, obtained potassium from the
electrolysis of melted (molten) caustic
potash or potassium hydroxide (KOH).
About potassium:
Extracted potassium is soft and
looks silvery. It is extremely reactive
burning in the air with a lilac flame. The
metal is stored under oil to prevent a
reaction with the oxygen in the air.
Potassium belongs to the first vertical
group of the periodic table, the alkali
metals.
As it is so reactive,
potassium is never found as the free
element in nature. Its most common salt,
potassium chloride is present in sea water
and many minerals. Potassium chloride is
also essential for living things and humans
need up to 7grms each day in their diets.
It is particularly important for nerves to
function properly since it is necessary for
the impulses (messages) to travel through
the nerve cells. |
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