Potassium: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{About|the chemical element|the use of potassium as a medication|Potassium chloride (medical use)|the use of potassium in biology|Potassium in biology}} {{Infobox potassium}} '''Potassium''' is a chemical element; it has symbol '''K''' (from Neo-Latin {{lang|la|kalium}}) and atomic number{{nbsp}}19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to..." |
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===Geology=== | ===Geology=== | ||
Elemental potassium does not occur in nature because of its high reactivity. It reacts violently with water | Elemental potassium does not occur in nature because of its high reactivity. It reacts violently with water and also reacts with oxygen. [[Orthoclase]] (potassium feldspar) is a common rock-forming mineral. [[Granite]] for example contains 5% potassium, which is well above the average in the Earth's crust. [[Sylvite]] (KCl), [[carnallite]] ({{chem2|KCl*MgCl2*6H2O}}), [[kainite]] ({{chem2|MgSO4*KCl*3H2O}}) and [[langbeinite]] ({{chem2|MgSO4*K2SO4}}) are the minerals found in large [[evaporite]] deposits worldwide. The deposits often show layers starting with the least soluble at the bottom and the most soluble on top. Deposits of niter ([[potassium nitrate]]) are formed by decomposition of organic material in contact with atmosphere, mostly in caves; because of the good water solubility of niter the formation of larger deposits requires special environmental conditions. | ||
==Commercial production== | ==Commercial production== | ||