Potassium

= = ===Potassium === Atomic Number: ** 19
 * By: ** heather handy **

**Protons: ** 19

**Electrons: ** 19

**Neutrons: ** 20

**Average Atomic Mass: ** 39.098

**Isotopes: ** 37K, 38K, 40K, 42K, 43K, 44K, 45K, 46K, 47K, 48K, and 49K

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Discovery: **<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Potassium was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1807 by electrolysis of potassium hydroxide.

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Name: **<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> The symbol K comes from the latin word Kalium. Potassium comes from the word "potash" which means a pot of ashes.

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Uses: **<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Potassium is used by the body and brain nerves to help them function. It also maintains the bodies fluid balance, contracts muscles, and keeps cells alive.

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Interesting Facts **<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 121%;">This is the first metal to be isolated by electrolysis and it's the 8th most abundant element on earth. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">

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 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sources **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,fantasy;"> Photo from Flickr: []
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|www.facts-about.org.uk/science-element-potassium.htm]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/pages/data/potassium_data.html]