Potassium

Element Name:** **Potassium Symbol:** **K Atomic Number:19** Number of Protons:19 Electrons and Neutrons of most common Isotope: Potassium has 19 electrons, to find the number of neutrons you take the mass of the element minus the number of protons so 39-19=20. So there are 20 neutrons in potassium. There are 17 isotopes of potassium. Natural potassium is composed of three isotopes, including potassium-40 (0.0118%), a radioactive isotope with a half life of 1.28 x 109 years. Electron Configuration:1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s1, or [Ar] 4s1. Most common radioactive isotope and description of how it decays: Naturally occuring 40K decays to stable40Ar (11.2% of decays) by electron capture or positron emmition, or decays to stable 40Ca (88.8% of decays) by beta decay. 40K has a halflife of 1.250×109 years.
 * Crystal Smith** **__All About Potassium__ [[image:http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/psychology/images/thumb/6/66/PotassiumFeldsparUSGOV.jpg/180px-PotassiumFeldsparUSGOV.jpg]]
 * Atomic Mass:39.0983

Physical Properties: Potassium is a soft, silvery-white metal with a melting point of 63°C and a boiling point of 770 °C (1,420°F). Its density is 0.862 grams per cubic centimeter, less then that of water. That means that potassium metal can float on top of water. Chemically that is not a good idea. The melting point of potassium if very low for a metal. It will melt over a candle flame.

Chemical Properties: Potassium is very active. It reacts violently with water and give of hydrogen gas. So much heat is produced in this reaction that the hytdrogen gas actually catches on fire and can explode. Floating potassium metal on the surface of water isnt a good idea. Poatassium would skip on the surface of water. The skipping is caused by hydrogen gas produced in the reaction pushing the metal around. The potassium would soon catch fire,burnperhaps explode. Potassium reacts with all acids and with all non-metals, such as sulfur, chlorine,fluorine,phosphorus, and nitrogen. Uses of Potassium:Potassium have many uses, it is used in many soaps. It can also be used in things like glassware, matches, and explosives. When combined with sodium, potassium can be used in certain heat-transfer systems. Also, plants need potassium to live, and potassium helps humans' metabolism. Another use of potassium is in medicine, usually used in medications to clear the nose.

History: In 1807, Humphry Davy, a british chemist started working on isolating the elements. He first made water solutions of potash and soda ash and then passed eletric current through it. There was no results. Soon, Davy realized his mistake and decided to exclude water from his experiments. He passed electric current throught the molten solutionof potash, which led to the emergence of tiny droplets of the metal. He named it potassium after potash.This feat was achieved on October 6, 1807 and potassium was the first metal isolated by electrolysis. A few days later, he discovered sodium, using the same method. Now, it is a known fact that the alkali extracted from wood ashes, termed as potash by our ancestors, was actually potassium carbonate. Similarly, the compound known as soda ash was sodium carbonate.

When it was discovered:Potassium was disscovered in 1807.

By Whom: Humphry Davy

How it got its Name:** **Early humans were fimilliar with potash,a potassium compound that is formed when wood burns.Wood ashed was washed in water to dissolve tha potash. It was then recovered by evaporating the water. Potash was often called vegetable alkali. That name comes from the orgin of the meterial("vegetable" plant that contains wood) and the most important property of the material, alkali.**

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 * My sources were wiki.com,google.com, and Environmental Chemestry.com and my only image was from google.com**