why is potassium not used to make electrical wires but copper is?

Answer 1

Reactivity and expense.

Potassium is an alkali metal and like metallic sodium, reacts with water (liquid and air moisture) yielding heat and hydrogen gas (an explosive combination). The other product is Potassium hydroxide, which is the chemical name for lye (used in Drano pipe cleaners and granny's soap). This material is highly caustic.

Copper is also one of the best conductor of electricity. Only metallic silver is better. Potassium is not a very good conductor in comparison.

Copper at about one dollar a pound is very much less expensive than metallic potassium at about $8 per gram.

Answer 2

Physical properties: Boiling Point: 760o C
Melting Point: 63.7oC
Density: 0.856 g/mL
Radioactivity: Yes, has a half life of 1.28 billion years
Color: Potassium is silvery in color when the surface is scratched, but it oxidizes very
rapidly when it comes into contact with the air.
Odor: none
Hardness: low
Brittle: low
Malleability: high

Chemical Properties:
Potassium is a very reactive metal. One substance that it is very reactive with is water. When potassium comes into contact with water, it produces potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Because of the production of hydrogen gas, the water appears to catch on fire immediately. Being that potassium is very reactive, it has to be stored in a liquid such as kerosene or mineral oil, with which it does not react. Potassium is not a manmade element. However, some isotopes of potassium have been artificially prepared. It occurs naturally combined with other minerals such as carnallite and sylite only seperated through electrolysis. Potassium makes up 2 1/2 percent of the Earth's crust and plays an important role in our metabolism and the sending of messages in our brain, known as neuron firing.

As you see, it has properties that make it unsuitable for electrical wires. Can you imagine those wires if it rained?

Answer 3

Metallic potassium is highly reactive to moisture, even atmospheric moisture. It would corrode, and could catch fire if exposed to enough water.

Moreover, copper is much less expensive, malleable, and easier to work with. Copper is also a better conductor of electricity, so less would have to be used. Aluminum is a better conductor than copper, for example, but it presents its own problems (corrosion, etc.).

Answer 4

because coper is a good conductor for electrocity , while potassium is an insulator

Answer 5

potassium is reactive and readily oxidizes...

Answer 6

It is much more reactive