Potassium
Potassium is one three key elements that water and carbon dioxide do not provide.
The plant uses potassium in many different ways. 60 of the plant's cells enzymes
are made up of potassium compounds. It is also used by the plant to increase disease
resistance, drought resistance, winter hardiness and in strengthning the cell walls.
The technical bit
- Name: potassium
- Symbol: K
- Atomic number: 19
- Atomic weight: 39.0983
- Group number: 1
- Group name: Alkali metal
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- Period number: 4
- Block: s-block
- Standard state: solid at 298 K
- Colour: silvery white
- Classification: Metallic
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Fact File
- Discovered in 1807 in England by Sir Humphrey Davies.
- Derived from the English word "potash" (pot ashes) and the Arabic word "qali" meaning
alkali.
- Potash was obtained originally by leeching from ashes left after burning wood.
- The origin of the symbol K comes from the Latin word "kalium").
- 1.5% by weight of the Earth is made up of Potassium
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