Element Family
Alkali
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
Im_ 3m
R_ 3m
Interesting Facts
- In the list of most abundant element Potassium is ranked 7th.
- Potassium can easily be sliced (chopped) down using knife.
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Mining, Ores of Minerals
Who Discovered
Humphry Davy
Ancient Chinese and Indians
Discovery
In 1807
Before 2000 BCE
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 is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Medical Uses
Pharmaceutical Industry
Dentistry
Other Uses
-
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
Toxicity
Toxic
Highly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Liquid
Color
Silvery Gray
Silver
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Chemical Stability, Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 4s1
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Rhombohedral (RHO)
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
-
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
-
-
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Diamagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor