Potassium might be an element that is a light metallic, but it is also a key component of nutrition for humans. It forms a number of compounds that are extremely important and it has a presence on the periodic table. It’s element number, in fact, is 19.
1. Hi. I’m an Alkali.
Potassium is an alkali metal, which means it is so soft that it can be cut with a knife. When it is in metallic form, it will also rapidly tarnish through oxidation because it reacts heavily to the moisture in the air. Because of this, you’ll find this metal only in salts in nature.
2. It’s Stored in Fuel
Because potassium in its pure form reacts so quickly to the air, it must be stored in something in order to preserve it. Most of the time it is stored in oil, but it is also common to store it in kerosene. It’s so conductive in the air that it can actually catch air on fire when there are high humidity levels.
3. No One Eats It
The recommended amount of potassium that people are supposed to eat every day is 4,700 mg. This means the average person would need to 11 bananas per day in order to get the recommended amount. For a little variety, try a potato. It has twice the amount of potassium than a banana in it.
4. It’s Got Electrolytes
Even though potassium is found in salts out in nature, it’s actually an electrolyte. This means that it can counter a diet that is high in sodium. The electrolytes will help help with the muscle development of the body, a person’s overall mental alertness, and even the amount of energy that they can store throughout the day.
5. It’s In Everything
Because potassium makes up more than 2% of the crust of the Earth, it can be found in virtually everything. It’s essential to almost all plant and animal life, which means all of your foods have some potassium in it.
6. Legs Are Cramping
One of the most common side effects of not getting enough potassium in a diet is to have muscle cramps. The legs in particular will begin to cramp. With a prolonged deficiency of this essential mineral, constant muscle twitches can also develop. When this occurs, it can take up to a month to restore the body’s natural processes.
7. It’s Radioactive
There are actually 17 known isotopes of potassium. The ordinary potassium that most people will consume has just 3 isotopes to it. One of those isotopes is known to have a radioactivity half-life that is literally millions of years. Despite this, you still need it. Go figure.
8. You Can Get It From Metal
Although we get potassium from salts, it is found in more abundance in metal alloys in nature. The problem is that we do not have the current technology to extract the alloy. This means there is a limited supply of potassium that is based on the finite salts and food products that are produced every year. Sharing is caring.