Facts about Potassium

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Facts about Potassium

• Potassium is a soft, highly reactive metallic
  element, it occurs only in nature as compounds.
• Potassium was formerly called Kalium, which
  explains the symbol K
• Potassium is an electrolyte, which conducts an
  electric current when placed in a solvent.

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The History of Potassium

• Potassium was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy of
  London in 1807.
• It is the seventh most abundant metal and the
  least dense known metal besides Lithium.

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• Potassium is one of the most electropositive and
  reactive metals we know of, and will catch fire
  when reacting with water.

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Properties of Potassium

• Potassium is a soft, silvery white metal that can
  be cut easily with a knife.
• Because potassium quickly oxidizes in air, it
  needs to be kept in mineral oil.
• In reaction with water, it decomposes to form
  hydrogen.
• Potassium forms a violet flame when caught on
  fire.
• Potassium is obtained by electrolysis of
  Hydroxide and is never found in nature.

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Uses of Potassium

• The main demand for using potassium is in
  fertilizers and is used in most soils.
• Potassium is vital for plant growth and
  development as well as human diets.
• It plays a very important role in the response to
  stimulating nerves of the body and also in the
  contraction of muscles.
• Potassium is also used to make soaps, glass,
  lenses, salt substitutes, and potassium nitrate
  is used for the coloring of fireworks and
  explosives.

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Health Facts

• Potassium is needed for body growth and
  maintenance.
• Eating foods rich in potassium will help to lower
  the risk of high blood pressure.
• Potassium in your body helps strenghten arteries,
  helps with damage of blood vessels and helps
  heart to function properly.

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Foods With A High Source of Potassium

• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Grapefruit
• Prunes
• Oranges
• Tomato Juice
• Honeydew
• Molasses
• Potatoes

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More health facts

• Potassium is a necessary dietary mineral.
• It is recommended that you should eat a potassium
  rich fruit or vegetable every day. This reduces
  the risk of a heart stroke by 40.
• If there is excessive loss of potassium in your
  body, it will cause you to get Hypokalemia, which
  can cause heart failure.
• The average person consumes about 7 grams of
  potassium per day and the average body stores up
  to 140 grams, mainly stored in the muscles.

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Sources

• http//www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?ident
  ifier4680
• http//www.answers.com/topic/potassium?cathealth
• http//environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/K.
  html
• http//periodic.lanl.gov/elements/19.html
• http//sciencespot.net/