Interesting Facts on Potassium

Potassium was the first metal to be isolated by electrolysis. It was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy, in 1807. Its name comes from the English word 'potash', which means an alkali extracted from the ash of burnt wood or tree leaves. Potassium's symbol is K and is derived from the Latin word kalium. The atomic number of potassium is 19 and its atomic mass is 39.0983. Potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal. It melts at 63.65°C and has 20 neutrons and 19 protons. Even though potassium is the seventh most abundantly found element, it is difficult to obtain from its minerals. As it is very electropositive in nature, it reacts violently with water, causing eruptions.

Industrial Uses of Potassium

Potassium is used to make the following products:

• Soap
• Glass
• Gunpowder
• Fertilizers
• Medicinal supplements
• Substitute for common table salt
• Production of potassium bromide, which is an essential chemical used in photography.
• Production of potassium hydroxide to make detergents.

Fast Facts about Potassium

• Its earliest use was in making soap.
• It reacts violently with water, causing eruptions.
• The potassium salts are mined in Germany and United States of America.
• It is never found free in nature, but has to be obtained by electrolysis.
• It makes up about 2.4% of the weight of the Earth's crust.
• It controls the movement inside cells and helps to pump fluids inside the nerves and heart.

Potassium is vital for all animal and plant life. In human beings, it promotes the well-being of both physical and mental processes. Keeping the right balance of potassium in the body depends on the intake of a healthy diet.

Nutritional Value of Potassium for Human Health

It facilitates efficient cognitive functioning, by ensuring adequate oxygen flow to the brain. It helps to regulate the level of body fluids, maintain normal blood pressure, keep the heart functioning properly and regulate the working of the nervous system by promoting proper functioning of the tissues. It enhances muscle control and proper growth and health of cells. Potassium helps the kidneys in their waste removal process, decreasing the amount of calcium excreted in urine; minimizing the risk of kidney stones. Since it helps in maintaining the levels of calcium, it protects the bones from osteoporosis. It is an important component for balancing the pH of the body.

How Much Potassium Do We Need

According to The National Academy of Sciences, Denver, an intake of 3,500 mg to 4,700 mg potassium is required per day. However, certain health conditions such as alcoholism, high stress and prolonged illness require different levels of intake. It is best to consult your doctor in such cases.

There are health hazards in consuming both excess or deficient amount of potassium, leading to hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium) or hypokalemia (low levels of potassium) respectively. In these conditions, both physical and mental health are affected. Mental symptoms include a slower cognitive process, insomnia, anorexia, various nervous disorders etc. Physical symptoms are muscle damage, cardiovascular irregularities, kidney and lung failure, weak bones and fatigue.

Dietary Sources of Potassium

Dietary sources of potassium include nuts, avocados, citrus fruits, bananas, watermelon, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, greens, spinach, soy products, seafood, meat and potassium-rich supplements. It is found in a concentrated form in fruits.

Our bodies are complex in nature, requiring maintenance of its delicate chemical balance. Any disruption in this balance causes physical or mental distress and diseases, sometimes with irreversible damage. Prevention through proper nutrition is all that it takes to lead a healthy and normal life. Its industrial uses as well as its nutritional value show the importance of potassium in our life.