Potassium (K)
"The Banana-Powered Blaster, an essential hero for a healthy body, but with an explosive reaction to water."
A memorable persona to anchor K in your mind.
0.862
Grams per cm³
63.5
Celsius (°C)
275
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The banana you eat for a healthy snack.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1807
Discovered By
Humphry Davy
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the English word ''potash''."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
39.098 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
759°C
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 4s1
1st Ionization Energy
4.341 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A soft, silvery-white metal that tarnishes instantly in air."
Did You Know?
Its chemical symbol 'K' comes from its Neo-Latin name, 'kalium', which is derived from the word 'alkali'.
Potassium metal reacts so violently with water that the hydrogen gas produced immediately ignites, burning with a lilac-colored flame.
It is an essential electrolyte for human life, crucial for nerve signals and muscle contractions, including the heartbeat.
Bananas are a well-known source of potassium, but potatoes and spinach actually contain more per serving.