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Rich, But Only in Potassium Trivia Quiz

This is an author challenge on a subject I never thought I would tackle!

A multiple-choice quiz by cazza2902. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
cazza2902

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
400,217

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
295

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which British scientist was the first to isolate potassium? Hint

Humphry Davy

Antoine Lavoisier

Henry Cavendish

Dimitri Mendeleev

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Question 2 of 10

2. If you add water to potassium it will explode.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. The chemical symbol for potassium is K. From which word is this symbol derived? Hint

kite

kale

kali

keel

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Question 4 of 10

4. What type of tool would you need to cut potassium? Hint

Hacksaw

Knife

Diamond drill bit

Chainsaw

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Question 5 of 10

5. Only a few types of food, such as bananas, contain potassium.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. A low level of potassium in the blood is known as hypokalemia. Which of these is not a symptom of hypokalemia? Hint

Male pattern baldness

Leg cramps

Feeling tired

Constipation

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Question 7 of 10

7. Low levels of potassium are thought to contribute to which of these health conditions? Hint

Hypertension

Hyperglycemia

Hyperthermia

Hypertrophy

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Question 8 of 10

8. Potassium belongs in the same group of the periodic table as which of these? Hint

Iron

Nickel

Cobalt

Lithium

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Question 9 of 10

9. The potassium salt, potassium sodium tartrate, is used in the production of what commonly used item? Hint

Mirrors

Toasters

Light bulbs

Batteries

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is another name for potassium nitrate? Hint

Saltpeter

Acetone

Chlorine

Barium

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which British scientist was the first to isolate potassium?

Answer: Humphry Davy

Davy had discovered, in 1806, that he could break things into their individual elements by using electricity. Not only did he identify potassium and sodium in 1807, he went on to isolate calcium, strontium, barium, magnesium and boron in 1808.

2. If you add water to potassium it will explode.

Answer: True

Humphry Davy first dropped potassium into oil where he noticed that it formed into little droplets and floated on the surface of the oil. When he repeated the process by dropping the potassium into water he got a very different reaction - it exploded.

3. The chemical symbol for potassium is K. From which word is this symbol derived?

Answer: kali

Davy named potassium for potash, the process of adding burnt wood or leaves in a pot, adding water, heating it and then evaporating it to extract potassium salts. The chemical symbol of K is derived from the latin kali which is a root word for alkali. What is fascinating is that akali comes from the Arabic al-qalyah which translates as plant ashes. So K is not so strange after all!

4. What type of tool would you need to cut potassium?

Answer: Knife

Potassium is very soft and can easily be cut with a knife. It is silvery in appearance but tarnishes quickly and turns grey.

5. Only a few types of food, such as bananas, contain potassium.

Answer: False

Potassium is found in all fruits, vegetables and meats. Whilst standards vary based on age, gender and which country is issuing them, they all agree that potassium is important in our daily diet. One group has even estimated that we would need to eat eleven bananas a day to achieve our daily dose of potassium!

6. A low level of potassium in the blood is known as hypokalemia. Which of these is not a symptom of hypokalemia?

Answer: Male pattern baldness

Hypokalemia can be caused by vomiting, diarrhoea, certain medicines such as steroids, renal dialysis, diabetes and, of course, not enough intake in the diet, all of which deplete the body's stores. Time to start eating more bananas.

7. Low levels of potassium are thought to contribute to which of these health conditions?

Answer: Hypertension

Whilst all these 'hypers' relate to 'high', potassium is the only one associated with hypertension, which is more commonly known as high blood pressure.

8. Potassium belongs in the same group of the periodic table as which of these?

Answer: Lithium

This group is also known as the H and alkali metals, and is sometimes called the lithium family. Other members of this group are hydrogen, lithium, sodium, rubidium, caesium and francium.

9. The potassium salt, potassium sodium tartrate, is used in the production of what commonly used item?

Answer: Mirrors

Potassium sodium tartrate is mixed with distilled water and is one of a number of solutions applied to glass to aid in the silvering process to produce a mirror.

10. What is another name for potassium nitrate?

Answer: Saltpeter

Potassium nitrate is used in fertilizers and fireworks and is one of the major components of gunpowder. The largest natural source of potassium nitrate is bat guano. It can also be extracted by the potash method.

Source: Author cazza2902

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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