Potassium: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Louise Valmoria (Oct write-a-thon - cleanup (wanted pages)) |
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | |||
{{Elem_Infobox | {{Elem_Infobox | ||
|background1= f2f2f2 | |background1= f2f2f2 | ||
Revision as of 18:55, 31 January 2009
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from the Latin kalium) and atomic number 19. It is a silvery white alkali metal that is highly reactive. Potassium reacts violently with water, producing hydrogen.
Potassium in its cation form (K+) performs many different functions within the human body. K+ is essential for cellular function and maintaining homeostasis through action potentials.
Biochemistry
Potassium is a vital ion in cellular communication via the action potential.
Hyperkalemia occurs when there is too much potassium in the blood, and hypokalemia when there is a deficiency. Potassium levels in the body are balanced by levels of sodium.