What is the chemical symbol for potassium?

Study for the OSAT Physical Science Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The chemical symbol for potassium is indeed K. This symbol is derived from the Latin word "kalium," which reflects its historical naming. Potassium is an essential alkali metal, located in group 1 of the periodic table, and its atomic number is 19. The use of K as the symbol helps to maintain consistency with the nomenclature derived from historical languages in chemistry. None of the other choices correspond to potassium: P represents phosphorus, Pt stands for platinum, and Po denotes polonium. Thus, K is the correct and widely recognized symbol for potassium in the field of chemistry.

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