The intracellular concentration of potassium is about 30 times higher than the extracellular concentration, and this difference forms a transmembrane electrochemical gradient that is maintained via the sodium-potassium (Na+/K+) ATPase transporter. Most potassium resides intracellularly, and a small amount is in extracellular fluid. The total amount of potassium in the adult body is about 45 millimole (mmol)/kg body weight (about 140 g for a 175 pound adult 1 mmol = 1 milliequivalent or 39.1 mg potassium). Potassium has a strong relationship with sodium, the main regulator of extracellular fluid volume, including plasma volume. Potassium is present in all body tissues and is required for normal cell function because of its role in maintaining intracellular fluid volume and transmembrane electrochemical gradients. Potassium, the most abundant intracellular cation, is an essential nutrient that is naturally present in many foods and available as a dietary supplement. For a general overview of Potassium, see our consumer fact sheet on Potassium. Your browser does not support the audio element.This is a fact sheet intended for health professionals. Some good sources of potassium in our diet include bananas, avocados, nuts, chocolate, parsley, and potatoes.It is used in fire extinguishers, baking powders, and antacids. Potassium bicarbonate is the chemical name for baking soda.A higher concentration can taste bitter or salty. A small amount of potassium can taste sweet.The USDA recommends that adults consume 4.7 grams of potassium each day.Potassium chloride (KCl) is sometimes used as a substitute for table salt.The majority (93%) of potassium found in nature is K-39. There are three isotopes of potassium that occur naturally: K-39, 40, and 41. The K symbol for the element comes from the Latin word "kalium", which means potash. Potassium gets its name from the salt potash from which potassium was first isolated. He used electricity to separate the element from the salt potash. Potassium was first isolated by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy in 1807. It is about the eighth most abundant element in the human body by weight. It is used in muscle contraction, fluid and pH balance, bone health, and helps to prevent kidney stones. Potassium also plays a vital role in our bodies. Industrial applications for potassium include soaps, detergents, gold mining, dyes, glass production, gunpowder, and batteries. This is because potassium is important for plant growth. The largest use of potassium is potassium chloride (KCl) which is used to make fertilizers. It can also be found in ocean water where it is also about the eighth most abundant element. Making up about 2.1% of the weight of the Earth's crust, potassium is the eighth most abundant element in the crust. Most minerals that contain potassium are referred to as potash. Instead it is found in various minerals such as sylvite, carnallite, langbeinite, and kainite. It also reacts with many other elements and substances such as oxygen, acids, sulfur, fluorine, and nitrogen.īecause potassium reacts so readily with water, it is not found in its elemental form in nature. It reacts violently when coming into contact with water, producing heat and hydrogen gas. It is so light that it can float in water.Ĭhemically, potassium is a very active metal. Potassium also has a very low density and is the second least dense metal after lithium. When it burns, it produces a pale purple colored flame. Potassium has a very low melting point such that even a candle can cause it to melt. When cut, the exposed metal tarnishes quickly and forms a dull oxide coating. It is so soft that it can be easily cut with a knife. Under standard conditions potassium is a soft silvery-white metal. Potassium is considered chemically similar to sodium, the alkali metal above it on the periodic table. Potassium atoms have 19 electrons and 19 protons with one valence electron in the outer shell. Potassium is the fourth element in the first column of the periodic table. Discovered by: Sir Humphry Davy in 1807.
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