Question

What is the mass number of potassium?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to remember that potassium is a metal since it has all metallic properties like it is a good conductor of heat and electricity also it is a lustrous metal. It appears to be silver grayish in appearance. Potassium is very similar to sodium as both are placed in the same group.

Complete answer:
We have to remember that potassium is a chemical element that is present in a periodic table having atomic number \[19\]. Atomic symbol for potassium is \[K\]. It belongs to group \[1\] i.e. alkali metals. Since potassium has all metallic properties like it is a good conductor of heat and electricity also it is a lustrous metal. It appears to be silver grayish in appearance. Potassium is very similar to sodium as both are placed in the same group.
We must have to know that the potassium ions are also important for the functioning of living cells. Since metals usually have a low melting point. Potassium being a metal has a low melting point. The most common oxidation state of potassium is -\[1\] and +\[1\] i.e. a strongly basic oxide.
Electronic configuration of Potassium: \[\left[ {Ar} \right]3{s^2}3{p^6}4{s^1}\]
As we know that the potassium has one electron more in its octet to attain noble gas configuration.
Mass number of potassium is \[39\] amu which is approximately double the atomic number i.e. \[19\]. The number of protons is the same as that of atomic number which is \[19\], and the number of neutrons can be found by differentiating between mass number and number of protons i.e. \[20\].

Note:
As we know that the protons carry positive charge, electrons carry negative charge whereas a neutron is a neutral species that has zero or no charge. Number of neutrons is different in isotopes. Potassium belongs to s block elements; it is an alkali metal which belongs to group \[1\].