Potassium is a metallic chemical element that is abundant in the earth's crust. It is a part of soil rocks and minerals. Most potassium minerals are insoluble and the metal is obtained from them only with great difficulty. Potassium is the third most abundant mineral nutrient in the human body, surpassed only by calcium and phosphorus. It is extremely important electrolyte that functions in the maintenance of: water balance and distribution, acid-base balance, muscle and nerve cell function, heart and kidney function. About 95 percent of the body's potassium is in cells. It is essential for nerve transmission and contraction of the heart muscle. Potassium along with sodium helps in the flow of water between the body fluids and cells.
In addition to functioning as an electrolyte, potassium is essential for conversion of blood sugar into glycogen, the storage form of blood sugar in the muscles and liver. A potassium shortage results in lower levels of stored glycogen. Since exercising muscles use glycogen for energy, a potassium deficiency produces great fatigue and muscle weakness. .
The recommended daily intake allowance for an adult is 1.9 grams to 5.6 grams. A daily diet that includes fruit, vegetables, meat and whole grain supplies enough potassium for the normal needs of the human body. You can find potassium in any plant or vegetables because the plants roots take the potassium found in soil and use it to produce foods. If your diet does not meet the recommended daily intake than you can take supplements in the form of a pill. Many people can handle an excess of potassium if they take to much. However, people with kidney problems are unable to handle the potassium and a result maybe heart failure, because of this people with kidney failure have to restrict their potassium daily intake. .
If an athlete does not receive enough potassium in their diet than their muscles will become weak and they will feel very tired.
POTASSIUM Introduction A. Potassium's atomic number is 19. B. Potassium's symbol is K which comes from the word kalium which comes from the Latinized version of the Arabic word for potash. C. Potassium's atomic weight is 39.098. D. Potassium is extremely soft metallic element that can be cut e...
Potassium is a mineral greatly needed in every major body function. ... Potassium helps our muscles contract and our heartbeats too. Potassium also helps to make electrolyze. ... Sweating, diarrhea and diuretics weaken potassium. ... Also without potassium, the heart muscle can not beat. ...
Potassium: K Potassium is an element in the periodic table with the symbol K. ... Sir Humphrey David in England discovered potassium in 1807. ... Potassium was the first metal isolated by electrolysis. Potassium is a very important element that has various uses. ... When Potassium reacts with air it forms Potassium hydroxide. ...
Military History and Uses Even though the first to mix potassium nitrate and carbonaceous fuel into an explosive mixture was the Chinese, as they used this invention for fireworks, the true discovers of this magical powder are not fully known. ... Until as late as 1450, gunpowder was a compound made up of more then half potassium nitrate, one quarter sulfur, and one quarter charcoal. ... The change from potassium nitrate to sodium nitrate came when it was discovered that sodium nitrate gave off more energy, and was very inexpensive, as it was easily imported from Chile or Peru. ... The mix...
Purpose To measure the solubility of the given substances (Ammonium Chloride, Potassium Nitrate, Sodium Chloride, Copper Carbonate, Iodine, Sugar, Wax, Sand, Oil, Starch) at various temperatures in water. ... Potassium nitrate is an ionic salt of potassium ions and nitrate ions and is soluble in water because of the separation of positive and negative charges acting on the compound. 7. ... Apparatus - Electrical balance - Hot plate - Boiling tubes - Water - 400ml Beakers - Test tube holder - Thermometer - Stopwatch - Spatula - Stirring rod - Given Substances (Ammonium Chloride, Po...
Potassium is the predominant intracellular cation. This means that serum potassium concentrations are a poor indicator of total body potassium, as only 2% exists in the extracellular fluid. ... In both acidosis and diabetes, the increased potassium loss in the urine due to osmotic diuresis may lead to reduced total body potassium although the plasma potassium levels are increased. ... If excessive dietary potassium intake occurs in renal failure the serum potassium levels will be very high. ... This means that potassium retention will occur. ...
Introduction For this experiment, we used an experimental arrangement of a Gouy balance to measure the susceptibility of various samples. Our theory was that electrons have a magnetic moment that could be aligned with - or opposite - an applied magnetic field, depending on the spin of the electron(...
Car accidents can prove to be fatal. However, with the proper safety measures, fatality can be avoided. Seatbelts can save your life, as well as airbags. An airbag is a big that undergoes a chemical reaction to burst out and causes a stop in motion, pillowing you into it. Airbags are complex, and a ...
There is a recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and potassium. ... (Hunter-9) The RDI for potassium for both men and women is 2,000 mg. (RDA-137) Potassium is important for the nervous system, muscle function, and fluid balance throughout the body. Potassium is important to the heart and kidney and balances hormones, mainly the adrenal gland. Potassium intake less than 1,600 mg a day can lead to hypokalemia, a deficiency of potassium. ...
