K
Potassium
Alkali MetalAtomic Number: 19 • Atomic Mass: 39.0980 u • Period: 4 • Group: 1
Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹
Phase: Solid
Electronegativity: 0.82
Physical & Chemical Properties
Physical Properties
- •Soft silvery-white metal
- •Highly reactive and must be stored under oil
- •Low melting point (336.53 K or 63.38°C)
- •Good conductor of heat and electricity
- •Lighter than water with a density of 0.862 g/cm³
Melting Point
336.53 K (63.38 °C, 146.08 °F)
Boiling Point
1032 K (758.85 °C, 1397.93 °F)
Density
0.862 g/cm³
Electronegativity
0.82 (Pauling scale)
Chemical Properties
- •Extremely reactive with water, producing hydrogen gas and heat
- •Rapidly oxidizes in air, forming a layer of potassium oxide
- •Forms ionic compounds with many non-metals
- •Has +1 oxidation state in nearly all compounds
- •Forms strong alkaline solutions in water
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in atomic orbitals, showing how they are arranged in energy levels and subshells.