the symbol for potassium is K, but what does it stand for and why?
2006-09-26 11:56:35 · 5 answers · asked by Kristin L 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K (Latin: kalium) and atomic number 19. The name "potassium" comes from the word "potash", as potassium was first isolated from potash. Potassium is a soft silvery-white metallic alkali metal that occurs naturally bound to other elements in seawater and many minerals. It oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive, especially towards water. In many respects, potassium and sodium are chemically similar, although organisms in general, and animal cells in particular, treat them very differently.
2006-09-26 11:57:33 · answer #1 · answered by ndtaya 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i dont know but the the symbol for Lead is Pb. Pb is plumbum, it is latin for lead, so it could me similar to potassium
2006-09-26 11:58:58 · answer #2 · answered by B-B@!! P!@Y@ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
kalium
2006-09-26 11:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by Trixie D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's something about the stuff that's in it
2006-09-26 11:59:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
kalium (Latin)
2006-09-26 12:04:24 · answer #5 · answered by Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋