Element Family
Alkali
Post-Transition
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.
- Compounds of Thallium metal are highly Toxic.
- Thallium metal is being suspected as a human carcinogen.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining
Found As a By-product, Ores of metals, Ores of Minerals
Who Discovered
Humphry Davy
William Crookes
Discovery
In 1807
In 1861
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Abundance In Humans
Not Available
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.
- Thallium is a toxic metal and hence it has limited uses. Thallium metal is mostly used for producing photoelectric cells.
- In thermometer’s mercury alloy has 8% of thallium, as it has a melting point lower than 20°C.
Industrial Uses
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
Chemical Industry
Medical Uses
Pharmaceutical Industry
Medical Research
Toxicity
Toxic
Highly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery Gray
Silvery White
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
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 4s1
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p1
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.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
Not Available
Viscosity
Not Available
Not Available
Vapor Pressure at 1000 K
Not Available
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
Other Mechanical Properties
NA
Ductile, Sectile
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Diamagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor
Critical Temperature
Not Available