Uses of Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element which is represented by the chemical symbol K. This is the seventh most abundantly available metal found on the surface of the earth. It is an alkali metal and is placed in the first group of periodic table. Potassium in its elemental form is silvery-white in color and is a highly reactive substance.

Uses in the Body

Potassium is an essential mineral for our body. It plays a vital role in the normal functioning of the body. It helps to maintain acidity levels and blood pressure. It is required for the transmission of electrical signals from nerves to the cells and vice versa. It also carries out other functions like regulation of water balance, muscle contraction including that of the heart muscles, protein metabolism, etc. It is very important that the potassium levels in humans are properly balanced. This is because too much potassium in the blood lead to a condition called hyperkalemia while too little will result in hypokalemia. Potassium deficiency symptoms include leg cramps, fatigue and weakness, irregular heartbeat, paralysis of muscles, etc. On the other hand, excess of potassium in the blood can lead to low blood pressure and even heart attack. However, high potassium levels occur mainly due to some underlying health problems.

This element has a number of uses in medicine. Potassium chloride (KCl) is used in preparation of supplements which are used to treat potassium deficiency. It is also used in diuretic medicines as use of diuretics cause loss of potassium from the body. It is included in the medicine to make up for that loss.

Uses in Plants

Potassium is an essential nutrients for plants. Potassium helps to control the functioning of the stomata present in the plant cells and various plant enzymes. It enables the stomata to regulate water within the plant efficiently and reduce loss of water through stomata. Thus, it takes care of plant health. In absence of potassium, plants are susceptible to diseases and are unable to withstand heat stress. Plants can obtain mineral potassium from the soil. However, if the soil is potassium deficient, then potassium nitrate is used as fertilizer.

Potassium Uses in Industry

Different potassium compounds are used widely in various industries. Some of the key industrial uses of potassium are as follows:

• Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) has strong basic properties. Therefore, it is used for the neutralization of acids and thus help in controlling the pH value. It is used in the preparation of different types of useful potassium salts. It is used in saponification of fatty and oily substances and in different hydrolysis reactions.
• Potassium forms an alloy with sodium, known as NaK (or "nack") which is found in liquid state at room temperature. This alloy is used as a desiccant to produce various dry solvents. It is also used as a medium for heat transfer in several industries.
• Potassium chromate (K₂CrO₄) is one compound which is widely used in manufacturing various items of our daily use. These include inks, dyes, safety matches, fireworks, fly paper, etc. It is needed in the tanning of leather too.
• Potassium cyanide is capable of dissolving precious metals like gold and silver. For this reason, it has a major industrial application in gold mining. Potassium vapor has found its use in different varieties of magnetometers. Potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) is often referred to as potash and is used for manufacturing soap and glass.

While storing elemental potassium, care has to be taken as it is a reactive element. When it comes in contact with water (including atmospheric moisture), it reacts quite violently and produces hydrogen and a large amount of heat is released which may result in a huge explosion. For this reason, it has to be stored in kerosene for safety purposes. While handling potassium, one should cover the body with protective gear to avoid any accidents.