K Potassium
Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements

The solid state structure of Potassium is Body Centered Cubic.

The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.

Unit Cell Parameters

The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)

and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).

The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( x_i, y_i, z_i) measured from a reference lattice point.

The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.

Space Group Name	Im_ 3m
Space Group Number	229
Crystal Structure	Body Centered Cubic
Number of atoms per unit cell	2

Potassium atoms have 19 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 8, 1] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) ²S_1/2.

Atomic Number	19
Number of Electrons (with no charge)	19
Number of Protons	19
Mass Number	39
Number of Neutrons	20
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)	2, 8, 8, 1
Electron Configuration	[Ar] 4s1
Valence Electrons	4s1
Valence (Valency)	1
Main Oxidation States	1
Oxidation States	-1, 1
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)	2S1/2

Bohr Atomic Model of Potassium - Electrons per energy level

n		s	p	d	f

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Potassium - neutral Potassium atom

Abbreviated electronic configuration of Potassium

The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Potassium atom is [Ar] 4s1. The portion of Potassium configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ar]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 4s1, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Potassium

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Potassium atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.

As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…

The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.

Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.

Atomic Structure of Potassium

Potassium atomic radius is 243 pm, while it's covalent radius is 196 pm.

Atomic Spectrum of Potassium

The electron affinity of Potassium is 48.4 kJ/mol.

Ionization Energy of Potassium

Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Potassium

Refer to below table for Potassium Physical Properties

Elastic Properties

Hardness of Potassium - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Potassium Electrical Properties

Potassium is Conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties ofPotassium

Potassium Heat and Conduction Properties

Potassium Magnetic Properties

Optical Properties of Potassium

Acoustic Properties of Potassium

Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Potassium

Enthalpies of Potassium

Potassium has 24 isotopes, with between 32 and 55 nucleons. Potassium has 2 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

Isotopes of Potassium - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 39K, 41K.