Definition of potassium Potassium

/pʌtæˈsiʌm/ - [putatseeum] - po•tas•si•um

We found 7 definitions of potassium from 7 different sources.

What does potassium mean?

Noun Plural: potassiums
potassium - a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
		K, atomic number 19
		metallic element, metal any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
		saltwater, seawater, brine water containing salts; "the water in the ocean is all saltwater"
		carnallite a white or reddish mineral consisting of hydrous chlorides of potassium and magnesium; used as a fertilizer and as a source of potassium and magnesium
		kainite a white mineral consisting of magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride; a source of potassium salts; used as a fertilizer
		langbeinite a mineral consisting of potassium magnesium double sulphate; used as a fertilizer

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potassium (Noun)
A soft, waxy, silvery reactive metal that is never found unbound in nature; an element symbol K with an atomic number of 19 and atomic weight of 39. 0983. The symbol is derived from the Latin kalium.

potassium (n.)
An Alkali element, occurring abundantly but always combined, as in the chloride, sulphate, carbonate, or silicate, in the minerals sylvite, kainite, orthoclase, muscovite, etc. Atomic weight 39.0. Symbol K (Kalium).

potassium
A silvery-white metallic alkali metal element with the symbol K and atomic number 19, occurs principally as component of sea water and in several minerals like carnallite, polyhalite and sylvite. It is being used as fertilizer as either the chloride, sulfate or carbonate.

potassium
pō-tas′i-um, n. the metallic base of the alkali potash—it is of a bluish colour, and presents a strong metallic lustre. [Potassa.]

Potassium is a chemical element in the periodic table. It has the symbol K. This is from the Latin word "kalium". Potassium's atomic number is 19. Its melting point is 63 degrees celsius. It is an alkali metal. It acts in many chemical reactions like sodium. It is a very soft metal that can be cut. Potassium is a silvery white metal that tarnishes in air and produces an oxidized layer on the surface, which is why it is stored in oil.

The word potassium comes from the word "potash". Potash is a chemical that has been used for a very long time. It is used to make fertilizer, soap, and glass.

Potassium is very important to organisms. It helps the body send messages from cells to other cells. It helps biological membranes "depolarize". This means go from a negative to a positive electrical charge. This is needed for muscles to "contract" (get shorter and move things.) It is needed for the heart to "beat" (push blood through blood vessels.) If the potassium level in the blood is too high or too low it can cause death because the heart stops. A good source of potassium is bananas.