potassium

American  

[puh-tas-ee-uhm] / pəˈtæs i əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a silvery-white metallic element that oxidizes rapidly in the air and whose compounds are used as fertilizer and in special hard glasses. K; 39.102; 19; 0.86 at 20°C.

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potassium British  

/ pəˈtæsɪəm /

noun

1. a light silvery element of the alkali metal group that is highly reactive and rapidly oxidizes in air; occurs principally in carnallite and sylvite. It is used when alloyed with sodium as a cooling medium in nuclear reactors and its compounds are widely used, esp in fertilizers. Symbol: K; atomic no: 19; atomic wt: 39.0983; valency: 1; relative density: 0.862; melting pt: 63.71°C; boiling pt: 759°C

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potassium Scientific  

/ pə-tăs′ē-əm /

1. A soft, highly reactive, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group occurring in nature only in compounds. It is essential for the growth of plants and is used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.65°C; boiling point 774°C; specific gravity 0.862; valence 1.

2. See Periodic Table

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Other Word Forms

• potassic adjective

Etymology

Origin of potassium

From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; potassa, -ium

Compare meaning

How does potassium compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• potassium vs. sodium
• potassium vs. potassium chloride

Example Sentences

Consuming too much sodium and not enough potassium are key contributors to elevated blood pressure.

From Science Daily

However, there was ongoing debate about whether it mainly transported potassium ions or protons, and how those movements affected cell function in both healthy and diseased states.

From Science Daily

The medications activate potassium channels, which relax pericytes and allow previously constricted blood vessels to widen.

From Science Daily

They focused on iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper, and potassium.

From Science Daily

During a massive impact, temperatures soar, allowing potassium to vaporize and its isotopes to separate.

From Science Daily