potassium
Americannoun
noun
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A soft, highly reactive, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group occurring in nature only in compounds. It is essential for the growth of plants and is used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.65°C; boiling point 774°C; specific gravity 0.862; valence 1.
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See Periodic Table
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of potassium
From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; see origin at potassa, -ium
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Vocabulary lists containing potassium
Nutrition - Middle School
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Nutrition - High School
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Nutrition and Digestion - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many farmers are "seriously worried" about the availability of potassium and compounds over the next year, Logan said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Fresenius Kabi sued Nebraska the same year for obtaining its medicines, including potassium chloride, for a planned execution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
They are generally made of glass, which is chemically reinforced by adding potassium to it.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
"Salt particles -- specifically sodium chloride and potassium chloride -- are most often used" as cloud-seeding agents, said Adnan Yarmohammed, one of the Emirati officials in charge of sharing his country's experience.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Blood tests revealed that I was anemic, and that my level of sodium was very high and my potassium low.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
