Page 42 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Potassium reactions
Potassium is highly reactive. It not only reacts violently with water, it also forms a wide variety of compounds. In many ways these compounds are similar to those of sodium. However, the reactions of many potassium salts will be different from those
of similar salts of other metals because the potassium plays no further part in reactions and therefore its salts are relatively unreactive (stable). Thus potassium nitrate will only decompose if heated well above its melting point. It then reluctantly releases oxygen gas and leaves an even more stable potassium salt.
EQUATION: Potassium and water
Potassium + water ➪ potassium hydroxide + hydrogen 2K(s) + 2H2O(l) ➪ 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
 When potassium metal is added to water it reacts even more vigorously than sodium (compare the reaction to that shown on page 6). As the potassium burns, it produces a violet flame. The solution produced is caustic potassium hydroxide, which turns the indicator
in the solution dark pink.
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