Potassium

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/potassium

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the element symbol?K
2. What is the atomic number?19
3. Why does potassium help our bodies and plants?In our bodies, potassium ions help nerves and muscles send signals and keep the heart beating normally. In plants, potassium is a big nutrient that helps with photosynthesis, enzyme work, and water balance.
4. Where does potassium come from?Scientists first made potassium in 1807 by using electricity to pull it out of potash, which is made from plant ashes. The name 'potassium' comes from that potash source.

Alkali Metal: A group of highly reactive metallic elements in the periodic table, characterized by a single valence electron.
Electrolysis: A process that uses electric current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction.
Isotope: Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
Homeostasis: The tendency of a biological system to maintain a stable, internal environment.