Potassium/ja: Difference between revisions

[[reagent|Reagent-grade]] potassium metal costs about $10.00/[[pound (mass)|pound]] ($22/[[kg]]) in 2010 when purchased by the [[tonne]]. Lower purity metal is considerably cheaper. The market is volatile because long-term storage of the metal is difficult. It must be stored in a dry [[inert gas]] atmosphere or [[anhydrous]] [[mineral oil]] to prevent the formation of a surface layer of [[potassium superoxide]], a pressure-sensitive [[explosive]] that [[Detonation|detonates]] when scratched. The resulting explosion often starts a fire difficult to extinguish.