Potassium atom in 3D
Plant growth and nerve signals. Potassium salts are used in fertilisers. Potassium ions participate in nerve signalling and cellular fluid balance. Explore the 3D model, inspect its parts and learn with guided explanations. Free on Atlas.
What you can learn
Plant growth and nerve signals. Potassium salts are used in fertilisers. Potassium ions participate in nerve signalling and cellular fluid balance.
Identify potassium from its proton count.
Count the neutrons in Potassium-39.
Inspect the occupied electron shells.
Compare the valence shell with a neighbouring element.
Explain what changes when an electron is lost.
The nineteenth electron occupies 4s in neutral potassium: the shell count is 2, 8, 8, 1, not 2, 8, 9.
Try an investigation
Identify potassium from its proton count.
Check your understanding
What identifies an atom as potassium?
19 protons. Atomic number is proton count. Every potassium nucleus has 19 protons.
How many neutrons are in Potassium-39?
20. Neutrons = mass number − atomic number = 39 − 19 = 20. Mass number is not the average atomic weight of natural samples.
How many electrons are in a neutral potassium atom?
19. A neutral atom balances 19 positive protons with 19 negative electrons.
Which shell count describes neutral potassium in its ground state?
2, 8, 8, 1. [Ar] 4s¹ gives 2, 8, 8, 1 electrons across its occupied shells. Circular paths are only diagram guides.
If this atom loses one electron, what happens to its net charge?
It becomes +1. Losing one negative electron leaves one more proton than electrons. Its 19 protons still identify it as potassium.
What can this 3D shell model tell you reliably?
The particle counts for the selected neutral isotope. The counts represent a defined isotope and neutral atom. Particle sizes, spacing and circles are simplified teaching symbols.
Sources and model scope
An educational representation. The explorer identifies its data sources, scale choices and simplifications.