Potassium

Arabic "al kalja" for soda ash (sodium carbonate) from the ashes of waterplants or potash (potassium carbonate) from the ashes of landplants.

Potassium belongs to the alkali metals. In elemental form it exists as a metalic solid. All alkali metals easily liberate an electron, forming positively charged ions. The violent reaction with water results in the formation of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and OH^-.