Potassium elemental properties

To which class of elements do lithium, sodium, and potassium belong What are their elemental properties ... 

The element was first prepared by Klemm and bonner in 1937 by reducing ytterbium trichloride with potassium. Their metal was mixed, however, with KCl. Daane, Dennison, and Spedding prepared a much purer from in 1953 from which the chemical and physical properties of the element could be determined. 

Rubidium [7440-17-7] Rb, is an alkali metal, ie, ia Group 1 (lA) of the Periodic Table. Its chemical and physical properties generally He between those of potassium (qv) and cesium (see Cesiumand cesium compounds Potassium compounds). Rubidium is the sixteenth most prevalent element ia the earth s cmst (1). Despite its abundance, it is usually widely dispersed and not found as a principal constituent ia any mineral. Rather it is usually associated with cesium. Most mbidium is obtained from lepidoHte [1317-64-2] an ore containing 2—4% mbidium oxide [18088-11-4]. LepidoHte is found ia Zimbabwe and at Bernic Lake, Canada. 

Strontium [7440-24-6] Sr, is in Group 2 (IIA) of the Periodic Table, between calcium and barium. These three elements are called alkaline-earth metals because the chemical properties of the oxides fall between the hydroxides of alkaU metals, ie, sodium and potassium, and the oxides of earth metals, ie, magnesium, aluminum, and iron. Strontium was identified in the 1790s (1). The metal was first produced in 1808 in the form of a mercury amalgam. A few grams of the metal was produced in 1860—1861 by electrolysis of strontium chloride [10476-85-4]. 

In 1896, Becquerel discovered that uranium was radioactive (3). Becquerel was studying the duorescence behavior of potassium uranyl sulfate, and observed that a photographic plate had been darkened by exposure to the uranyl salt. Further investigation showed that all uranium minerals and metallic uranium behaved in this same manner, suggesting that this new radioactivity was a property of uranium itself In 1934, Fermi bombarded uranium with neutrons to produce new radioactive elements (4). 

The seventh element in order of abundance in the Earth s crust is potassium - about the same as sfjdium with similar properties. While sodium is readily available from the ocean, potassium is found and extracted from many mineral formations. About 90 percent of the potassium that is extracted goes to the production of fertilizers. Other purposes for it are ceramics and fire extinguishers for which potassium bicarbonate is better than sodium bicarbonate. 

The alkali metals form a homogeneous group of extremely reactive elements which illustrate well the similarities and trends to be expected from the periodic classification, as discussed in Chapter 2. Their physical and chemical properties are readily interpreted in terms of their simple electronic configuration, ns, and for this reason they have been extensively studied by the full range of experimental and theoretical techniques. Compounds of sodium and potassium have been known from ancient times and both elements are essential for animal life. They are also major items of trade, commerce and chemical industry. Lithium was first recognized as a separate element at the beginning of the nineteenth eentury but did not assume major industrial importance until about 40 y ago. Rubidium and caesium are of considerable academic interest but so far have few industrial applications. Francium, the elusive element 87, has only fleeting existence in nature due to its very short radioactive half-life, and this delayed its discovery until 1939. 

Industrial production media must also contain sources of potassium, phosphorous and magnesium. Trace elements may also have to be added. The water used for medium preparation will be from the public water supply or other readily available source. The quality of the water is carefully monitored because the presence of certain metal salts, for example, calcium, copper and iron, can have adverse effects on both the growth of the oiganism and the rheological properties of the exopolysaccharides. 

There is convincing experimental evidence for the following important statement. To a degree of approximation satisfactory for most analytical work, the mass absorption coefficient of an element is independent of chemical or physical state. This means, for example, that an atom of bromine has the same chance of absorbing an x-ray quantum incident upon it in bromine vapor, completely or partially dissociated in potassium bromide or sodium bromate in liquid or solid bromine. X-ray absorption is predominantly an atomic property. This simplicity is without parallel in absorptiometry. 

The members of Group 1 are called the alkali metals. The chemical properties of these elements are unique and strikingly similar from one to another. Nevertheless, there are differences, and the subtlety of some of these differences is the basis of the most subtle property of matter consciousness. Our thinking, which relies on the transmission of signals along neurons, is achieved by the concerted action of sodium and potassium ions and their carefully regulated migration across membranes. So, even to learn about sodium and potassium, we have to make use of them in our brains. 

One early attempt to organize the elements clustered them into groups of three, called triads, whose members display similar chemical properties. Lithium, sodium, and potassium, for example, have many common properties and were considered to be a triad. This model was severely limited, for many elements could not be grouped into triads. The triad model is just one of nearly 150 different periodic arrangements of the elements that have been proposed. 

Complete the following steps using elements in the same group as potassium. The term property value refers to the melting point, ionization energy, or electronegativity of the element. Record your results in Data Table 1. 

CO hydrogenation, 32 328-349, 408-410 coordination numbers, 35 238 elemental composition, dispersion, and catalytie properties, 39 243-244 Fischer-Tropsch reaetion, potassium effect, 36 36... 

As a final example of a group of elements with similar properties, the metallic elements lithium, sodium, and potassium have such low densities that they float on water and are so highly reactive that they spontaneously burn by extracting oxygen from the water itself These light metals form strong alkalis and are appropriately called the alkali metals. You should locate each of these columns of similar elements, as shown in Figure 1-1, on the periodic table. 

Bohr s theory not only solved the puzzle of the rare earths, it also explained why Mendeleev s periodic law works so well in most cases. Elements with the same number of electrons in the outermost shell have similar properties. For example, both sodium and potassium have a single electron in the outer shell. Magnesium and calcium, which are also chemically and physically similar, each have two. Carbon and silicon have four. And so on. 

Elemental composition Pb 86.62%, O 13.38%. The compound may be identified by its physical properties and characterized by x-ray crystallography. Lead may be analyzed in the acid extract of the oxide by AA or ICP spectroscopy. It also may be analyzed by its oxidative properties. It hberates iodine from an acidic solution of potassium iodide, and the liberated iodine may be titrated against a standard solution of sodium thiosulfate using starch indicator (blue color decolorizes at the end point). 

Elemental composition P 37.78%, H 3.69%, 0 58.54%. The acid in solid form may be identified by its physical properties. Aqueous solution may be heated and phosphorus acid is converted to phosphoric acid which is measured for orthophosphate ion by ion chromatography or colorimetry (see Phosphoric Acid). A cold aqueous solution may be analyzed for phosphite ion by ion chromatography, following appropriate dilution. Strength of the acid in an aqueous solution may be measured by acid-base titration using a standard solution of alkali. Also, titration against a standard solution of silver nitrate using potassium chromate as indicator may serve as an additional confirmatory test. 

Elemental composition K 56.58%, C 8.69%, O 34.73%. The salt can be identified from its physical and chemical properties. Its aqueous solution is highly alkaline. Reaction with dilute acids evolves CO2 with effervescence. The latter can be identified by GC-TCD or GC/MS. The primary characteristic mass ion for CO2 is 44. Also, CO3 2- anion can be measured by ion chromatography. Potassium can be analyzed by various instrumental and wet methods (see Potassium). 

Elemental composition K 40.26%, Cr 26.78%, O 32.96%. An aqueous solution of the salt is analyzed for potassium and chronium (see Potassium and Chronium). Potassium chromate may be identified by its physical properties and by x-ray methods. Also, an aqueous solution of the salt forms a red precipitate of silver chromate when treated with a solution of silver nitrate. The chromate content may be determined stoichiometrically by weighing the dry precipitate. 

---