Element Family
Alkali
Lanthanide
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.
- Erbium metal is used as alloyed with Vanadium to make it softer.
- Recent studies shows that it is helpful for metabolism.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Mining
Who Discovered
Humphry Davy
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Discovery
In 1807
In 1842
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 a tendency to get tarnished in the open air, but when alloyed with elements like erbium, vanadium, its hardness levels decreases.
- Its compounds like Erbium oxide is used in safety glasses of welders and metal workers.
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
Chemical Industry
Medical Uses
Pharmaceutical Industry
-
Toxicity
Toxic
Mildly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery Gray
Silvery White
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Chemical Stability, Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 4s1
[Xe] 4f12 6s2
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
HCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Erbium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
-
Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor