See also Potassium chloride and chloride
Potassium is an element<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With Physical Science. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000</ref> in the alkali metals class of the periodic table. It is so chemically active that it is never found free (in elemental form) in nature. In its elemental form, it reacts with water, forming potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, so violently that the hydrogen usually catches fire. It reacts with the halogens to make halides like potassium chloride.
Its existence as “potash” or “vegetable alkali” (potassium carbonate), “caustic potash” (potassium hydroxide), etc., had long been known, but it was not isolated as an element until 1807, by Sir Humphrey Davy. It was isolated by electrolysis of potassium hydroxide.
The radioactive decay of potassium provides a method of radiometric dating called potassium-argon dating that is used to calculate the ages of volcanic rocks.
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The term chloride refers to a compound or molecule that contains either a chlorine anion (Cl−), which is a negatively charged chlorine atom, or a non-charged chlorine atom covalently bonded to the rest of the molecule by a single bond (−Cl). The pronunciation of the word "chloride" is .
Chloride salts such as sodium chloride are often soluble in water. It is an essential electrolyte located in all body fluids responsible for maintaining acid/base balance, transmitting nerve impulses and regulating liquid flow in and out of cells. Other examples of ionic chlorides include potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). Examples of covalent chlorides include methyl chloride (CH3Cl), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2), and monochloramine (NH2Cl).