K
Potassium
Z = 19 · Alkali Metal · 39.1 u
Nuclear Engineering Significance
Component of KOH used in some coolant chemistry applications. Present in FLiNaK molten salt (LiF-NaF-KF). Thermal absorption (σ_a = 2.1 b) is moderate. K-40 is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope but is not significant in reactor operations.
Basic properties
- Atomic number (Z)
- 19
- Standard atomic mass
- 39.1 u
- Category
- Alkali Metal
Isotopes & cross-section data
| Isotope | Mass (A) | Half-life | ZAID | Libraries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-39 | 39 | Stable | .80c.71c.70c | |
| K-40 | 40 | 1.248e9 y | .80c.71c |