potassium
Let an agent identify potassium and its properties, relay isotopes, compounds, production and uses from reference sources, describe biological and dietary roles in general terms, and distinguish the element from potash and its salts.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent identify potassium and its properties, relay isotopes, compounds, production and uses from reference sources, describe biological and dietary roles in general terms, and distinguish the element from potash and its salts.
A chemical element with symbol K and atomic number 19, a soft, silvery alkali metal that reacts violently with water, occurring in minerals such as sylvite and in seawater, essential to all living cells as the main intracellular cation and to plants as a major nutrient supplied by potash fertilisers, and used in compounds for glass, soap and chemicals; potassium has two stable isotopes and the long-lived radioactive potassium-40 used in dating, with many short-lived isotopes from potassium-32 upward, and dietary potassium is important for blood pressure.
What it is for: Fertilisers, chemicals and biological function.
It can be relay properties and isotopes; explain compounds and uses; relay biological and dietary roles; distinguish from potash.
Distinguishing features
Highly reactive
Main intracellular cation
Fertiliser nutrient
Potassium-40 dating
What it looks like
A soft silvery metal that tarnishes rapidly and burns with a lilac flame.
Physical character
atomic number: 19 Z
standard atomic weight: 39.098 u
melting point: 63.5 degrees C
potassium-40 half-life: 1.25 billion years
How it is recognised
Element 19, symbol K
Alkali metal of potash and cell potassium
Potash is a group of potassium salts; sodium is the neighbouring alkali metal
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - element in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is essential for - as the main intracellular cation
In practice
Families and kinds
potassium metal
potassium compounds such as chloride, hydroxide, nitrate and carbonate
stable potassium-39 and potassium-41, radioactive potassium-40 and short-lived isotopes such as potassium-32 to potassium-37
potash fertilisers
dietary potassium
Identifiers
symbol K
CAS 7440-09-7
Standards and regulation
Chemical safety rules for reactive metals
Fertiliser regulations
Dietary guidelines on potassium intake
Radiation rules for potassium-40 in food are minimal
Failure modes and hazards
Fire and explosion with water
Hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia
Confusing potassium with potash
Agents giving personal dietary or medical advice
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.potassium
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identify What potassium is.
Identity.
Properties
Properties.
Properties
Properties.
- What are the physical and chemical properties of potassium? definition
- Is the question about the element, potash or dietary potassium? boundary
Isotopes
Isotopes.
Isotopes
Isotopes.
- Which isotopes exist, and how is potassium-40 used in dating? definition
- Which entry fits the specific isotope? action
Produce Compounds and production.
Industry.
Compounds
Compounds and potash.
Compounds
Compounds.
- What are the major potassium compounds, and how is potash mined and used? provenance
- Which entry fits potash? action
Metal
Potassium metal.
Metal
Metal.
- How is potassium metal produced, and where is it used? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Life Biology and diet.
Public health.
Biology
Potassium in cells.
Biology
Biology.
- What role does potassium play in cells, nerves and plants? provenance
- Which entry fits potassium in biology? action
Diet
Dietary potassium.
Diet
Diet.
- What do guidelines say about potassium intake and blood pressure, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user asking for personal dietary or medical advice, which needs a professional? boundary
Context History and safety.
Context.
Discovery
Discovery.
Discovery
Discovery.
- How was potassium isolated by Davy in 1807, and why is it called kalium in many languages? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of chemistry? action
Safety
Safety.
Safety
Safety.
- How is potassium metal handled safely? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should potash and dietary potassium be separate primary entries?
- How should health guidelines be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming short-lived isotopes; should they be split off?