Potassium ions are vital for the functioning of all living cells. K are found in all potassium, and it is the most common radioisotope in the human body. Naturally occurring potassium is composed of three isotopes, of which 40 It was suspected in 1702 that they were distinct elements that combine with the same anions to make similar salts, and this was proven in 1807 through using electrolysis. They have a similar first ionization energy, which allows for each atom to give up its sole outer electron. Potassium is chemically very similar to sodium, the previous element in group 1 of the periodic table. It is found dissolved in sea water (which is 0.04% potassium by weight ), and occurs in many minerals such as orthoclase, a common constituent of granites and other igneous rocks.

Elemental potassium reacts vigorously with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite hydrogen emitted in the reaction, and burning with a lilac- colored flame. Potassium in nature occurs only in ionic salts. In the periodic table, potassium is one of the alkali metals, all of which have a single valence electron in the outer electron shell, that is easily removed to create an ion with a positive charge – a cation, that combines with anions to form salts. It was first isolated from potash, the ashes of plants, from which its name derives. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to form flaky white potassium peroxide in only seconds of exposure. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force.

Potassium is a chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin kalium) and atomic number 19.

Potassium reactivity