Chemical symbol :K

Atomic Number: 19

Family Name: Alkali Metal

Atomic Mass: 39.0983

Group: 1A

Period: 4

How Potassium was Found:

As many people, such as my self, do not know the element Potassium very well. But we all know sodium (such as in salt and such.) Funny enough, potassium was actually found with sodium. The man to discover such elements was named Sir Humphry Davy. How did he find these elements? Well, back then (a.k.a around the 1770s) people knew substances called potash and soda ash. Sir Humphry would use electricity to move through a water extract through a compound (such as potash.) Little did Davy know that potassium and sodium were very reactive to water, so the elements did not form.

Davy tried a different method. He gathered potash and soda ash, then melted them. He used electricity to pass through the melted substances and was amazed to find a drop of liquid from each substance. The droplet from soda ash was named sodium, the droplet from the potash was named potassium. That was how sodium and potassium were found.

Fun and Awesome Facts:

*Potassium was one of the first elements to be found by electrolysis

*It is a soft metal which makes this element very reactive. When potassium is put into water, it will burn a lilac colored flame

*2.4% of the Earth's crust is potassium

*Potassium could be found in soaps,fertilizers,glass, and gun powder.

Potassium has 19 protons and 20 neutrons in its electron configuration. It also has four orbitals.
Potassium is very reactive. This is how it reacts with water.
Description: Usually when it is in its solid form, it is a silvery-white color with a slight pink color. Potassium is soft enough for a knife to cut cleanly through.
Potassium could be found in table salt which is a healthier choice than regular salt
Bananas are an excellent source of potassium!
Korean pears are a delicious and exotic source of potassium. You can find some at H Mart.
It's Elementary!
By: Jane Kye