potassium (po-tas'se-um)

A metallic element; a silvery white solid, at ordinary temperatures waxy and ductile. It decomposes water at ordinary temperature with the evolution of hydrogen. Atomic weight, 39.2. Specific gravity, 0.875. Symbol, K (from kalium). charta pota i i nitratis. Unsized white paper, soaked in a solution of p. nitrate and dried [U. S. Ph., 1890]. crude p. carbonate. Pearl-ash; an impure p. carbonate occurring as a dry granular powder or as a porous ma of a white color sometimes shading into bluish or greenish gray, containing 90 per cent, of the pure salt, liquor pota i i arsenitis. Solution of arsenite of p. [U. S. Ph.], arsenical (or Fowler's) solution, the liquor arsenical is of the Br. Ph.; an aqueous solution of p. arsenite, made by di olving arsenic trioxid in water with equal parts of p. bicarbonate. The solution contains 1 part of arsenic trioxid in 100 parts, liquor pota i i citratis. Solution of citrate of p., made by mixing, when required, a solution of 8 parts of p. bicarbonate in 42 parts of water, with a solution of 6 parts of citric acid in 44 of water [U. S. Ph.]. liquor pota i i hydroxidis. A liquid containing 5 per cent, of pota ium hydroxid in aqueous solution [U. S. Ph.]. liquor pota i i per mang an at is. A solution of 1 part of p. permanganate in 99 of distilled water [Br. Ph.]. mistura pota i i citratis. Mixture of citrate of p.; a preparation made by saturating 100 parts of lemon juice with p. bicarbonate [U. S- Ph.]. monohydric p. phosphate. A white amorphous deliquescent substance,. HK2PO4, occasionally used in medicine.. p. acetate. A white powder, KC2H3O2,, made up of foliate or scaly crystals (or amorphous), easily soluble in water or alcohol, and volatilizing on exposure to the air. It is obtained by neutralizing p. carbonate with dilute acetic acid and drying, p. amalgam. An alloy of p.