Potassium | Chemistry

Chem 13 News University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Potassium, 19, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Potassium: The common theme for this tile is how biology relates to potassium. Potassium plays a critical role in the Potassium-Sodium Pump. This pump is responsible for actively transporting high concentrations of potassium ions (represented by yellow ions) and low amounts of sodium ions (represented by red ions) into and out of the cell. The images shown along the top and right side of the tile represent the types of foods that contain potassium in them. Foods such as brown rice, turmeric, soybeans, strawberries and etc., contain high levels of potassium which help regulate the body’s blood pressure and promote proper muscle control.

Vetura Jeyandran, co-op student assisting with the Periodic Table project, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Atomic properties*

Name:

Potassium

Symbol:

K

Atomic number:

19

Atomic mass:

39.0983 amu

Melting point:

63.5°C

Boiling point:

759°C

Density:

0.89 g/cm³

Electronegativity:

0.82

# of Isotopes:

5

State:

Solid

Colour:

Silvery-white±

Classification:

Metallic±

* Haynes, W. M. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 91st edition: http://www.hbcponline.com/ Retrieved April 7, 2011

± Winter, M. (2010). Home of the Periodic Table. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Web Elements: http://www.webelements.com/