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Potassium

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POTASSIUM

Potassium is a soft silvery reactive element belonging to the group I of the periodic table. It is characterised by

     

  1. Atomic number 19

    2.  

  2. Relative atomic mass 39.098

    3.  

  3. Relative density 0.87

    4.  

  4. Melting point 63.7OC

    5.  

  5. Boiling point 774OC

OCCURRENCE

Potassium basically occurs in minerals, as sylvine (KCl), Carnalite (KCl.MgCl2.6H2O) and salt petre (KNO3)

EXTRACTION

Potassium is usually prepared by the action of heat on potassium carbonate with coke.

1000OC

2KF + CaC2 è 2K + CaF2 + 2C

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

     

  1. Reducing Action

    2. Al2O3 + 6K è 2Al + 3K2O

    3CO2 + 4K è C + 2K2CO3

  2. Action of air

    3. H2O

    		 2CO2

    4K + O2 è 2K2O è 4KOH è 2K2CO3 +2H2O

  3. Action of Water

2K + 2H2O è 2KOH + H2

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