<P> Potassium is a chemical element with symbol K ( from Neo-Latin kalium ) and atomic number 19 . It was first isolated from potash , the ashes of plants , from which its name derives . In the periodic table , potassium is one of the alkali metals . All of the alkali metals have a single valence electron in the outer electron shell , which is easily removed to create an ion with a positive charge -- a cation , which combines with anions to form salts . Potassium in nature occurs only in ionic salts . Elemental potassium is a soft silvery - white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts vigorously with water , generating sufficient heat to ignite hydrogen emitted in the reaction and burning with a lilac - colored flame . It is found dissolved in sea water ( which is 0.04 % potassium by weight ) , and is part of many minerals . </P>
<P> Potassium is a chemical element with symbol K ( from Neo-Latin kalium ) and atomic number 19 . It was first isolated from potash , the ashes of plants , from which its name derives . In the periodic table , potassium is one of the alkali metals . All of the alkali metals have a single valence electron in the outer electron shell , which is easily removed to create an ion with a positive charge -- a cation , which combines with anions to form salts . Potassium in nature occurs only in ionic salts . Elemental potassium is a soft silvery - white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts vigorously with water , generating sufficient heat to ignite hydrogen emitted in the reaction and burning with a lilac - colored flame . It is found dissolved in sea water ( which is 0.04 % potassium by weight ) , and is part of many minerals . </P>
what group of the periodic table is potassium in
what group of the periodic table is potassium in
alkali metals
alkali metals