[puh-tas-ee-uh
m] 
| a silvery-white metallic element that oxidizes rapidly in the air and whose compounds are used as fertilizer and in special hard glasses. Symbol: K; atomic weight: 39.102; atomic number: 19; specific gravity: 0.86 at 20°C. |
| po·tas·si·um (pə-tās'ē-əm) n. Symbol K A soft, silver-white, highly or explosively reactive metallic element that occurs in nature only in compounds. It is obtained by electrolysis of its common hydroxide and found in, or converted to, a wide variety of salts used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.65°C; boiling point 774°C; specific gravity 0.862; valence 1. See Table at element. [From potash (from which it was first obtained).] po·tas'sic adj. |
potassium po·tas·si·um (pə-tās'ē-əm)
n.
Symbol K
A soft, highly or explosively reactive metallic element that occurs in nature only in compounds and is found in or converted to a wide variety of salts used especially in fertilizers and soaps. Atomic number 19; atomic weight 39.098; melting point 63.28°C; boiling point 759°C; specific gravity 0.862; valence 1. Also called kalium.