
Potassium element (K) is in group 1 and period 4 of a periodic table. Potassium is in the s-block and it is classified as an alkali metal on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to potassium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Potassium element (Information Table)
- Potassium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Potassium
- Properties of Potassium
- Uses of Potassium
Potassium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to potassium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of potassium | Silvery gray |
Atomic number of potassium | 19 |
Symbol of potassium | K |
Atomic mass of potassium | 39.098 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in potassium | Protons: 19, Neutrons: 20, Electrons: 19 |
State of potassium (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of potassium in periodic table | 1 |
Period number of potassium in periodic table | 4 |
Block of potassium in periodic table | s-block |
Category of potassium | Alkali metal |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in potassium | 2, 8, 8, 1 |
Electron configuration of potassium | [Ar] 4s1 |
Orbital diagram of potassium | ![]() |
Valence electrons in potassium | 1 |
Electronegativity of potassium (on pauling scale) | 0.82 |
Atomic radius of potassium (van der Waals radius) | 275 picometers |
Density of potassium | 0.856 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of potassium | 4.341 eV |
Main isotope of potassium | 39K |
Melting point of potassium | 336.7 K or 63.5 °C or 146.3 °F |
Boiling point of potassium | 1032 K or 759 °C or 1398 °F |
Crystal structure of potassium | Body Centered Cubic (BCC) |
Discovery of potassium | By Humphry Davy in 1807 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Potassium element in Periodic table
The Potassium element (K) has the atomic number 19 and is located in group 1 and period 4. Potassium is in solid state at STP and it is classified as an alkali metal on the periodic table.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about potassium
Here are a few interesting facts about potassium element.
- 2.4% of the earth’s crust consists of potassium element.
- Potassium is the 7th most abundant element present in the earth’s crust.
- Human body also contains potassium in trace amounts.
- If potassium is deficient in the human body, then it can cause hypokalemia.
- The dead sea has a lot of potassium in it.
- Potassium floats on water as it is lighter than water.
- Potassium is a soft metal and you can even cut it with a knife.
Properties of potassium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of potassium.
Physical properties of potassium
- Potassium is a solid metal having a shiny-gray appearance.
- Potassium gets a dull gray color if it is kept open in the air. This is because of oxide layer formation on the surface of potassium metal.
- After lithium, potassium is the 2nd lightest metal.
- The potassium element has a density less than that of water, hence it floats on water.
- There are many isotopes of potassium, and out of these isotopes, the most abundant isotope is 39K, which has an abundance of around 93%.
- The melting point and boiling point of potassium is 336.7 K and 1032 K respectively.
Chemical properties of potassium
- Potassium is not found in its free state because of its high reactivity. It is always found as a compound with other elements on the earth’s crust.
- Potassium reacts violently with water.
- Potassium releases hydrogen gas when it reacts with water and this reaction makes the solution alkaline.
- Potassium is always stored in a mineral oil because of its reactivity.
Uses of potassium
Here are some uses of the potassium element.
- Potassium is used in the manufacturing of fertilizers, oxidizers, etc.
- Potassium bisulfate is used to preserve wines and beer.
- Nuts, potatoes, tomatoes, etc have potassium in it. Human body also requires potassium for maintaining proper health.
- Potassium bromide, which is a compound of potassium, is used in medicinal applications as well as in photography.
- Potassium is used in manufacturing of glass, soap, bleaching agents as well as gunpowder.
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