potassium etymology

Etymology:

• Greek: ποτάσσα (potassa), meaning "pot ash"
• French: potasse

Meaning:

• A chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19
• A soft, silvery-white metal that is highly reactive and forms salts and oxides easily
• A mineral that contains potassium, such as pot ash

Origin:

Potassium was first extracted from wood ashes in the early 1600s. The ashes were boiled in water, and the resulting liquid was filtered and concentrated. The concentrated liquid was then heated in a pot to drive off the water. The remaining material was a white powder that was called "pot ash."

In 1807, Sir Humphry Davy discovered that pot ash contained a new metal. He named this metal "potassium" after the pot ash from which it was extracted.

potassium relate terms

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