12/10/2023 0 Comments Potassium element square![]() Except for lithium, it is the lightest known metal. It is one of the most reactive and electropositive of metals. Many potassium salts are of utmost importance, including the hydroxide, nitrate, carbonate, chloride, chlorate, bromide, iodide, cyanide, sulfate, chromate, and dichromate. Potassium is an essential constituent for plant growth and is found in most soils.Īn alloy of sodium and potassium (NaK) is used as a heat-transfer medium. The greatest demand for potash has been in its use for fertilizers. Thermal methods also are commonly used to produce potassium (such as by reduction of potassium compounds with CaC 2, C, Si, or Na). Potassium is never found free in nature, but is obtained by electrolysis of the hydroxide, much in the same manner as prepared by Davy's first process. Potassium is also found in the ocean, but is present only in relatively small amounts, compared to sodium. Large deposits of potash, found at a depth of some 3000 ft in Saskatchewan, promise to be important in coming years. Potash is mined in Germany, New Mexico, California, Utah, and elsewhere. Most potassium minerals are insoluble and the metal is obtained from them only with great difficulty.Ĭertain minerals, however, such as sylvite, carnallite, langbeinite, and polyhalite are found in ancient lake and sea beds and form rather extensive deposits from which potassium and its salts can readily be obtained. The metal is the seventh most abundant and makes up about 2.4% by weight of the earth's crust. Discovered in 1807 by Davy, who obtained it from caustic potash (KOH) this was the first metal isolated by electrolysis. ![]() From the English word, potash - pot ashes Latin kalium, Arab qali, alkali.
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