The chemical symbol for potassium is “K”.
Physical Properties of Potassium:
| Properties | Details |
| Symbol | K |
| Atomic Number | 19 |
| Atomic Mass | 39.0983 u |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Solid |
| Melting Point | 63.38°C |
| Boiling Point | 759°C |
| Density | 0.86 g/cm³ |
| Color | Silver-white |
| Crystal Structure | Body-centered cubic (BCC) |
| Electrical Conductivity | Good conductor of electricity |
Chemical Properties of Potassium:
| Properties | Details |
| Reactivity | Highly reactive metal, reacts vigorously with water |
| Oxidation States | +1 |
| Flame Color | Violet |
| Reacts with Oxygen | Burns with a lilac flame, forming potassium oxide (K₂O) |
| Reacts with Water | Reacts violently with water, releasing hydrogen gas |
| Reacts with Acids | Reacts with acids to produce potassium salts and hydrogen gas |
| Reacts with Halogens | Reacts with halogens (e.g., chlorine) to form ionic salts |
| Reactivity towards Oxygen | Tends to lose electrons to form potassium oxide |
Reaction of potassium with Alkali Metal
| Alkali Metal | Reaction with Potassium |
| Lithium (Li) | 2K and 2LiCl react and convert into 2KCl and 2Li |
| Sodium (Na) | 2K and 2NaCl react and convert into 2KCl and 2Na |
| Potassium (K) | No reaction (self-reaction) |
| Rubidium (Rb) | 2K and 2RbCl react and convert into 2KCl and 2Rb |
| Cesium (Cs) | 2K and 2CsCl react and convert into 2KCl and 2Cs |
| Francium (Fr) | 2K and 2FrCl react and convert into 2KCl and 2Fr |
Reaction of potassium with Transition Metal
| Transition Metal | Reaction with Potassium |
| Iron (Fe) | 3K and 2FeCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and 2KFe |
| Copper (Cu) | 2K and CuCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Cu |
| Silver (Ag) | 2K and AgCl react and convert into 2KCl and Ag |
| Nickel (Ni) | 2K and NiCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Ni |
| Palladium (Pd) | 2K and PdCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Pd |
| Platinum (Pt) | 2K and PtCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Pt |
| Gold (Au) | 2K and AuCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and Au |
| Titanium (Ti) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
| Chromium (Cr) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
| Manganese (Mn) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
| Cobalt (Co) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
| Zinc (Zn) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
Reaction of potassium with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal | Reaction with Potassium |
| Aluminum (Al) | 2K and 2AlCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and 2Al |
| Gallium (Ga) | 2K and 2GaCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and 2Ga |
| Indium (In) | 2K and 2InCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and 2In |
| Tin (Sn) | 2K and SnCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Sn |
| Thallium (Tl) | 2K and 2TlCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and 2Tl |
| Lead (Pb) | 2K and PbCl₂ react and convert into 2KCl and Pb |
| Bismuth (Bi) | 2K and 2BiCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and 2Bi |
| Antimony (Sb) | 2K and SbCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and Sb |
| Selenium (Se) | 2K and Se react and convert into K₂Se |
| Tellurium (Te) | 2K and Te react and convert into K₂Te |
| Phosphorus (P) | 4K and P₄ react and convert into 4KP |
| Sulfur (S) | 2K and S₈ react and convert into K₂S₈ |
| Oxygen (O) | 4K and O₂ react and convert into 2K₂O |
| Nitrogen (N) | No reaction (under normal conditions) |
| Hydrogen (H) | 2K and 2H₂O react and convert into 2KOH and H₂ |
Reaction of potassium with Non-Metal
| Non-Metal | Reaction with Potassium |
| Hydrogen (H) | 2K and 2H₂O react and convert into 2KOH and H₂ |
| Carbon (C) | 2K and C₆H₆ react and convert into 2KC₆H₆ (Potassium cyclohexyl) |
| Nitrogen (N) | 2K and N₂ react and convert into 2KN |
| Oxygen (O) | 4K and O₂ react and convert into 2K₂O |
| Fluorine (F) | 2K and F₂ react and convert into 2KF |
| Chlorine (Cl) | 2K and Cl₂ react and convert into 2KCl |
| Bromine (Br) | 2K and Br₂ react and convert into 2KBr |
| Iodine (I) | 2K and I₂ react and convert into 2KI |
| Sulfur (S) | 2K and S₈ react and convert into K₂S₈ |
| Phosphorus (P) | 4K and P₄ react and convert into 4KP |
| Selenium (Se) | 2K and Se react and convert into K₂Se |
| Tellurium (Te) | 2K and Te react and convert into K₂Te |
| Boron (B) | 2K and B₂H₆ react and convert into 2KBH₆ (Potassium borohydride) |
| Silicon (Si) | 2K and SiCl₄ react and convert into 2KCl and Si |
| Hydrogen sulfide | 2K and H₂S react and convert into 2KHS (Potassium hydrosulfide) |
| Ammonia (NH₃) | 2K and 2NH₃ react and convert into 2KNH₂ and H₂ (Formation of potassium amide and hydrogen) |
Reaction of potassium with Metalloid
| Metalloid | Reaction with Potassium |
| Boron (B) | 2K and B₂H₆ react and convert into 2KBH₆ (Potassium borohydride) |
| Silicon (Si) | 2K and SiCl₄ react and convert into 2KCl and Si |
| Germanium (Ge) | 2K and GeCl₄ react and convert into 2KCl and Ge |
| Arsenic (As) | 2K and AsCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and As |
| Antimony (Sb) | 2K and SbCl₃ react and convert into 2KCl and Sb |
| Tellurium (Te) | 2K and Te react and convert into K₂Te |
| Polonium (Po) | 2K and Po react and convert into K₂Po |