COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
Kirsten Krause : October 1807 : ​Volume 1, Issue 1
Special Edition:​ Interview with
Sir Humphry Davy
Featured Scientist: Sir Humphry Davy
Mr. Davy, would you please tell us
a little bit about yourself and your
scientific career so far?
Why of course! I was born on
December 17th, 1778 in Penzance,
Cornwall, England, which is also
where I was educated. I became a
surgeon’s apprentice to help
support my family in 1795, a year
after the death of my father. During
my time as an apprentice, I
developed a wide variety of
interests and taught myself many
skills in subjects such as poetics,
philosophy, theology, and many
sciences, but it was in 1797 when I
first discovered my passion for
chemistry.
Discovery of a New Element: Potassium (K)
You mentioned before that it was
at the Pneumatic Institution you
made many discoveries, including
Potassium, the element we will be
reviewing today. Could you tell us
about your discovery?
Well, Potassium is actually the
eighth most abundant element on
What did you do after your time
working as an apprentice?
After my release, I began testing
the disease causing properties of
the Earth, but because it is so
reactive, it is never found free in
nature. I first isolated it through
electrolysis of molten caustic
potash (any various of mined or
manufactured salt). Expectedly, the
name “Potassium” is derived from
the word potash, as it is the
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nitrous oxide, which then led to my
appointment ​as chemical
superintendent of the Pneumatic
Institution in 1798. From this
position I continued my
explorations and published my
findings in 1800.
What other accomplishments have
you made since then?
Well, after publishing my findings,
I then took interest in electrical
experiments, where I studied the
electricity producing properties of
electrolytic cells and the chemical
implications of those cells'
processes. This has allowed me to
make many discoveries, including
our subject of interest today!
substance the element was first
extracted and discovered from.
Has this method led to any other
successful discoveries for you?
Indeed. I have also discovered
sodium and boron through the
method of electrolysis.
 COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
Coolements Factoids: Potassium (K)
there because of it’s highly reactive
properties. Potassium has 19
protons, 20 neutrons, 19 electrons,
and a density of .862 g/cm³; it it
quite light weight. It is also the 8th
most abundant element on the
planet and is found primarily in
minerals in ancient lakes and sea
beds, also accounting for 2.5% of
Could you give us a brief overview the mass of the Earth’s crust.
of this new element?
As I mentioned before, the name Are there any other notable atomic
Potassium is derived from the word and/or physical properties?
potash, as that is the substance it Potassium’s atomic mass is
was first isolated from through 39.0983 amu, and has a specific
electrolysis. Potassium is the heat of .75 j/g ⁰C. Its melting point
chemical element on the periodic is 63.65⁰C, and its boiling point is
table with the symbol K, which is 774⁰C. To continue, Potassium is
derived from the Latin word for found in a solid state of matter at
potash, “Kalium.” Potassium room temperature (20⁰C), and its
belongs to the alkali metals group electron configuration is 1s², 2s²,
(I, not including hydrogen) on the 2p⁶, 3s², 3p⁶, 4s¹.
periodic table, and earns its place
All About Potassium: Notable Characteristics
You mentioned that potassium is a oxidizes rapidly when exposed to
solid in room temperature. What is oxygen and turns to a dull gray
the appearance of the element this color. For this reason, potassium is
state? often stored in oil or kerosene to
Potassium is a silvery whitish preserve it. It is also the first metal
color, and, although a metal, is to be isolated by electrolysis.
very soft in it’s solid state and can Are there any other notable
be easily cut with a knife. characteristics about Potassium?
Potassium does not often maintain Since potassium is a highly
its silver color though, because it reactive substance, when exposed
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Could you explain further about
the electron configuration and what
it is?
Certainly! Electron configuration is
the distribution of electrons of an
atom or molecule, in atomic or
molecular orbitals. “Energy levels”
is also commonly used when
talking about electron
configuration, in reference to the
orbitals. Potassium’s electron
shells are 2, 8, 8, 1, assuming the
element is free.
to water it reacts rapidly and
intensely. The reaction is
exothermic and the potassium
becomes heated to such an extent
that it burns with a lilac flame. It is
quite beautiful, in my opinion.
During this reaction, hydrogen is
released which reacts with oxygen
also ignites.
 COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
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Pictured: Potassium in its solid state.

Featuring darker, oxidized edges and
the silver face that has been newly
exposed to oxygen and has not yet
oxidized.

Coolements Lifestyle: Human Uses for Potassium

What uses can potassium provide plants (which we consume), which
for humans? Is it a useful require potassium for many
substance at all? processes. This being said,
Oh of course! Potassium proves to potassium is quickly depleted from
be very useful to humans. Because plants and is therefore an important
potassium is so reactive, it is easily
combined with other elements to
form very useful compounds.
Potassium is found in glass,
primarily that used in
television and computer
screens, even other
such as medical drips and saline
electronic devices.
injections. Further, sodium and
Though it is extremely
potassium easily bond with
reactive with water,
component in fertilizers and other each other, easily losing 1
ironically potassium is
plant foods. The list goes on! electron to do so. This forms
a key ingredient in
potassium salts, which provide a
many liquid soaps,
Please, share more! wide variety of uses. Potassium
detergents, and drain
Small amounts of potassium are salts are used in baking, the toning
cleaners. Potassium is vital to all
also present in pharmaceuticals process in photography and
living cells, including those of

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 COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
drawing blueprints, tanning leather, Indeed. Potassium is necessary for
and even to make iodized salts. many functions in all living cells.
Particularly, the power source of
Does potassium have a large muscle movement. This comes
impact on our health as well? from a mechanism known as the
sodium potassium pump, and as
Volume 1, Issue 1  
one could conclude from the name,
the presence of potassium is vital.
Without potassium, humans would
have an awfully hard time getting
around, or doing much of anything
for that matter!

Look Out! : Toxicity

So, humans need potassium… cell functions, they develop a these foods contain potassium
What is the recommended daily condition called hypokalemia. greater than 400mg per cup. Thus,
intake of potassium? if one incorporates one or more of
The recommended daily intake of How would one know they have
potassium is 3500 mg, those taking such a condition?
supplements should not exceed 18g Symptoms of both of these
per oral dose. conditions include stomach upsets,
intestinal disorders, and heart
Although you mentioned rhythm disorders. If not properly
potassium is vital to all living cells, monitored, the conditions can
what happens if one has too much become so severe that they cause
or not enough potassium? Is there a the rupture of red blood cells.
point when it becomes toxic?
There is a condition called What are some good potassium
hyperkalemia, in which the containing foods so that one can be
these foods into their diet, they will
affected individual has abnormal sure they are consuming proper
have no problem maintaining
amounts of serum potassium potassium levels?
proper potassium levels. If one is
(liquid potassium in the blood). Typically, potassium can be
still struggling, supplements can be
This condition occurs when the naturally regulated through the
taken, but as I mentioned before,
potassium intake of the individual body, however if one is lacking the
oral doses should not exceed 18g.
exceeds the capacity of the kidneys proper amounts, there are a variety
If one is struggling with ​too much
to eliminate it; thus those with of foods containing potassium.
potassium in their diet, it would be
kidney problems are advised to Some of these include avocado,
advised to avoid foods such as
avoid foods high in potassium, spinach, sweet potato, coconut
these.
such as bananas. Similarly, when water, yogurt, white beans, acorn
an individual is lacking the proper squash, dried apricots, mushrooms,
amount of potassium needed for bananas and many more. All of

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 COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
Volume 1, Issue 1  

ENTER THE COOLEMENTS WEEKLY GIVEAWAY

This week the Coolements Team is giving away a kit to make your very own liquid hand
soap! The kit contains souvenir potassium along with what is needed to make your soap,
all the necessary ingredients, a plastic container with a pump, and a small towel
featuring the letter “K” (for potassium) embroidered in a color of your choice! Must be
18 or older to enter, just fill out the form below & mail it into Coolements HQ at 123
Atomic Ave, Coventry CT, 06238.
________________________________________________

Name:________________________________
Age:_________
Mailing Address:__________________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________________________
Phone Number:__________________________________________________

Why I should win this kit:

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 COOLEMENTS MAGAZINE REVIEW 
Volume 1, Issue 1  

Sponsored Ads

Contributors: Bibliography
"Water Treatment Solutions." ​Potassium (K)​. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"Potassium." ​Linus Pauling Institute​. N.p., 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"Water Treatment Solutions." ​Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamins and Minerals​. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Oct. 2016.

"Chemical Elements.com - Potassium (K)." ​Chemical Elements.com - Potassium (K)​. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Oct. 2016.

Winter, Mark. "Potassium: Biological Information." ​Potassium»biological Information [WebElements

Periodic Table]​. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"Potassium Element Facts." ​Chemicool​. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"10 Fun Facts About Potassium." ​About.com Education​. N.p., 04 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

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