Properties
- Melting point:
- 64 °C (lit.)
- Boiling point:
- 760 °C (lit.)
- Density
- 0.86 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
- vapor pressure
- 0.09 mm Hg ( 260 °C)
- refractive index
- n20/D 1.334
- storage temp.
- 2-8°C
- solubility
- H2O: soluble
- form
- rod
- color
- Silver/gray
- Specific Gravity
- 0.86
- Odor
- Odorless
- PH
- 5.0 (H2O, 20°C)
- Resistivity
- 6.1 μΩ-cm, 20°C
- Water Solubility
- reacts
- Sensitive
- Air & Moisture Sensitive
- Exposure limits
- ACGIH: TWA 2 ppm; STEL 4 ppm
OSHA: TWA 2 ppm(5 mg/m3)
NIOSH: IDLH 25 ppm; TWA 2 ppm(5 mg/m3); STEL 4 ppm(10 mg/m3)
- Dielectric constant
- 5(0.0℃)
- Stability:
- Stable. Moisture and air-sensitive. Spontaneously combustible through the generation and ignition of hydrogen. Reacts violently with water and acids, alcohols, carbon monoxide. Store under oil.
Safety Information
- Symbol(GHS)
GHS02,GHS05
- Signal word
- Danger
- Hazard statements
- H260-H314
- Precautionary statements
- P223-P231+P232-P260-P280-P303+P361+P353-P305+P351+P338
- Hazard Codes
- F,C,Xi,T
- Risk Statements
- 14/15-34-36/38-23/24/25
- Safety Statements
- 8-43-45-5B-5*-36/37/39-26-5-27
- RIDADR
- UN 2257 4.3/PG 1
- WGK Germany
- 2
- RTECS
- TS8050000
- F
- 8
- Autoignition Temperature
- 25 °C or below in air or oxygen
- TSCA
- Yes
- HS Code
- 2827 39 85
- HazardClass
- 4.3
- PackingGroup
- I
- Toxicity
- Ignites in air and reacts explosively with water; highly corrosive to the skin and eyes.
Potassium reacts with the moisture on skin and other tissues to form highly corrosive
potassium hydroxide. Contact of metallic potassium with the skin, eyes, or mucous
membranes causes severe burns; thermal burns may also occur due to ignition of the
metal and liberated hydrogen.
Use
Potassium is an important reagent (something that is used in chemical reactions to analyze other substances) that forms many compounds used in chemical and industrial laboratories. It is used to manufacture both hard and soft soaps, as a bleaching agent, and where a highly caustic chemical is required. Potassium is essential to all living organisms. It is a trace element required for a healthy diet and is found in many foods. One natural source is bananas.