K

    Potassium

    Alkali Metal

    Atomic Number: 19 • Atomic Mass: 39.0980 u • Period: 4 • Group: 1

    Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹
    Phase: Solid
    Electronegativity: 0.82

    Occurrence

    Potassium is found in various natural sources, including minerals, rocks, and the Earth's crust.

    • Never found free in nature due to its high reactivity
    • Abundant in the Earth's crust (2.1% by weight)
    • Found in minerals like sylvite (potassium chloride) and carnallite
    • Present in seawater at approximately 380 mg/L
    • Essential mineral for plant growth and living organisms