It has a low first ionization energy (418.8 kL/mol). It is also found in dissolved form in sea water and constitute about 0.04% potassium by weight. In ratio of abundance, it is the 20 th most abundant element in the solar system and 17 th most abundant on the earth (makes around 2.6% of weight of the earth’s crust). Potassium occurs in nature in the form of ionic salts. The symbol of potassium is K and is derived from kali (alkali), which is derived from Arabic work for plant ashes ( al-qalyah). It was first obtained in pure form by Humphry Davy (1807), through the process of electrolysis. the mixture was heated and the solution by evaporated to obtain potash (potassium). In early days, potassium was extracted by placing ashes of burnt tree in a pot along with water. Potassium was discovered from the ashes of plants and its name was derived from potash (plant ashes). It is a biologically essential element and also has various industrial applications, including fertilizers, pesticides, explosives etc. The Arabic numbering system is the most widely accepted today.Potassium is an alkali metal and was obtained in pure elemental form in 1807 by Hymphry Davy. Many periodic tables include both Roman and Arabic numbers. The modern IUPAC system uses Arabic numbers 1-18, simply numbering the columns of the periodic table from left to right.The CAS system used letters to differentiate main group (A) and transition (B) elements.The older IUPAC system used Roman numerals together with letters to distinguish between the left (A) and right (B) side of the periodic table.Three systems have been used to number families and groups: Recognizing Families on the Periodic TableĬolumns of the periodic table typically mark groups or families. Noble Gases: - Group 18 (VIIIA) - 8 valence electrons.Halogens: - Group 17 (VIIA) - 7 valence electrons.Oxygen Group or Chalcogens: - Group 16 (VIA) - 6 valence electrons.
![potassium periodic table potassium periodic table](https://www.learn4yourlife.com/images/PeriodicTablePotassium.jpg)
Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens: - Group 15 (VA) - 5 valence electrons.Carbon Group or Tetrels: - Group 14 (IVA) - 4 valence electrons.Boron Group or Earth Metals: Group 13 (IIIA) - 3 valence electrons.Transition Metals: Groups 3-12 - d and f block metals have 2 valence electrons.Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2 (IIA) - 2 valence electrons.Alkali Metals: Group 1 (IA) - 1 valence electron.Many chemists and chemistry textbooks recognize five main families:Īnother common method of categorization recognizes nine element families: However, there are different ways of categorizing elements into families.
![potassium periodic table potassium periodic table](https://material-properties.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Potassium-periodic-table.png)
Because element properties are largely determined by the behavior of valence electrons, families and groups may be the same. Element groups, on the other hand, are collections of elements categorized according to similar properties. The characteristics of the elements in these families are determined primarily by the number of electrons in the outer energy shell. Elements are classified into families because the three main categories of elements (metals, nonmetals, and semimetals) are very broad. Element families are indicated by numbers located at the top of the periodic table.Īn element family is a set of elements sharing common properties.