Potassium: Difference between revisions
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JeffEvarts (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{Compound|name=Potassium|chemf=K|density=0.8|num=19|group=Alkali Metals|mm=39.1|stp_p=solid|stp_q=grey|mp=63.5|bp=759|nfpa_h=3|nfpa_f=3|nfpa_r=2|nfpa_o=<s>W</s>}} ==Uses== <!...") |
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{{Compound | {{Compound|chemf=K|group=Alkali Metals | ||
|num=19|mm=39.1|mp=63.5|bp=759|density=0.8 | |||
|stp_p=solid|stp_q=grey|nfpa_h=3|nfpa_f=3|nfpa_r=2|nfpa_o=<s>W</s> | |||
}} | |||
==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
<!-- justification: differentiates [[sodium carbonate]] from [[potassium carbonate]], which explains their impact on soap --> | <!-- justification: differentiates [[sodium carbonate]] from [[potassium carbonate]], which explains their impact on soap --> | ||
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* [[potassium chloride]] occurs naturally in [[salt water]] and the mineral '''sylvite''' | * [[potassium chloride]] occurs naturally in [[salt water]] and the mineral '''sylvite''' | ||
* [[potassium carbonate]] occurs naturally in wood [[wood ash]] | * [[potassium carbonate]] occurs naturally in wood [[wood ash]] | ||
==Hazards== | ==Hazards== | ||
* Potassium will spontaneously (exothermically) oxidize when exposed to [[air]] | * Potassium will spontaneously (exothermically) oxidize when exposed to [[air]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:00, 25 June 2019
| Chemical formula | K |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 19 |
| OTP appearance | grey solid |
| Molar Mass(g/mol) | 39.1 |
| Density(g/cc) | 0.8 |
| Melting Point(°C) | 63.5 |
| Boiling Point(°C) | 759 |
| NFPA 704 |  3
3
2
|
Uses
Primary
- Important chemical substituent
- Important halide exchange metal
Natural occurrence
- Elemental potassium does not occur naturally.
- potassium chloride occurs naturally in salt water and the mineral sylvite
- potassium carbonate occurs naturally in wood wood ash
Hazards
- Potassium will spontaneously (exothermically) oxidize when exposed to air
- Potassium will react violently when exposed to water, producing heat and flammable hydrogen gas, a potentially bad combination.
- Potassium is very reactive in general
Production
File:KClNaClBps.png
Gaseous extraction of elemental potassium
- from -chloride and sodium metal by thermal reduction and halide exchange. KCl and an excess of Na are intermixed in an oxygen-free environment and the temperature is maintained above 801°C and below 1156°C, the potassium escapes as a gas, leaving a mixture of molten sodium and molten salt behind.
- KCl(l) + Na(l){K(g) + NaCl(l)1000°C}→
- KCl(l) + Na(l)
- from -chloride via electrolysis. cf. Downs cell
- 2 KCl(l){2 K(l) + Cl2(g)770°C, 7-10V}→
- 2 KCl(l)
Purification
==Testing
Storage
Disposal
See Also
- Downs cell
- Salt and sodium