Element Family
Alkali
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
Im_ 3m
P63/mmc
Interesting Facts
- In the list of most abundant element Potassium is ranked 7th.
- Potassium can easily be sliced (chopped) down using knife.
- Naturally occurring minor elements include Cadmium.
- Cadmium is released into atmosphere to control volcanic eruption and forest fires.
- It is used for electroplating of Steel for corrosion resistance.
- It can absorb neutrons and used in nuclear reactor to control atomic fission.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Found As a By-product, Found in Minerals, Mining
Who Discovered
Humphry Davy
Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann and Friedrich Stromeyer
Discovery
In 1807
In 1817
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- Potassium’s compounds are in high demand for their application in Fertilizer manufacturing.
- Potassium carbonate is used in glass manufacturing and Potassium carbonate in manufacturing detergent and body wash.
- It has very limited uses as it is a toxic metal and it can cause birth defects, cancer, etc.
-
Almost 80% of Cadmium metal is used in Nickel cadmium Batteries and now it is getting replaced with nickel hydride.
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Medical Uses
Pharmaceutical Industry
NA
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery Gray
Silvery Bluish-Gray
Reflectivity
Not Available
α Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
β Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
γ Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
4th Energy Level
Not Available
5th Energy Level
Not Available
6th Energy Level
Not Available
7th Energy level
Not Available
8th Energy Level
Not Available
9th Energy Level
Not Available
10th Energy Level
Not Available
11th Energy Level
Not Available
12th Energy Level
Not Available
13th Energy Level
Not Available
14th Energy Level
Not Available
15th Energy Level
Not Available
16th Energy Level
Not Available
17th Energy Level
Not Available
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Chemical Stability, Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Chemical Stability, Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 4s1
[Kr] 4d10 5s2
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
HCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Cadmium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Tensile Strength
Not Available
Viscosity
Not Available
Not Available
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
Other Mechanical Properties
NA
Ductile, Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Diamagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Semiconductor
Critical Temperature
Not Available