potassium

[puh-tas-ee-uhm]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a silvery-white metallic element that oxidizes rapidly in the air and whose compounds are used as fertilizer and in special hard glasses. K; 39.102; 19; 0.86 at 20°C.

potassium

/ pəˈtæsɪəm /

noun

1. a light silvery element of the alkali metal group that is highly reactive and rapidly oxidizes in air; occurs principally in carnallite and sylvite. It is used when alloyed with sodium as a cooling medium in nuclear reactors and its compounds are widely used, esp in fertilizers. Symbol: K; atomic no: 19; atomic wt: 39.0983; valency: 1; relative density: 0.862; melting pt: 63.71°C; boiling pt: 759°C

potassium

1. 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.

2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• potassic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of potassium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; potassa, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of potassium¹

C19: New Latin potassa potash

Example Sentences

Somehow, he had managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

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Intravenous drugs used to treat her then showed concentrations of potassium 100 times the expected dose and the alarm was sounded with local prosecutors.

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Somehow, he managed to get his hands on the ingredients for gunpowder - potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal.

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The greens are also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin B6 and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, calcium and potassium.

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GPs have told the BBC that unreliable blood results, with erroneously high levels of potassium caused by processing delays, are a regular occurrence since Synnovis began the service.

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