Teah Hirschfeld academic portfolio 

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Reactivity tends to increase as you go down a group on the periodic table. This trend became clear in our experiment when we compared the reactivity of two alkaline earth metals, magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). To test this, we introduced both elements to water. When magnesium was added, only slight bubbling occured, and there was minimal reaction overall. However when calcium was placed in water, it reacted much more intensely, producing noticeable heat, bubbling intensely and changing the color to a greyish blue. In the second part of our experiment we tested the reactions of different chlorides with various metals. For instance, when barium chloride was combined with sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide and potassium iodine, a precipitate formed in each case. This outcome aligns with the fact that barium, positioned lower in group 2, is among the most reactive alkaline earth metals. On the other hand, Magnesium chloride was tested under the same conditions but only reacted once. The reason calcium is more reactive than magnesium, and barium is more reactive than both, is found in the atomic structure. As you move down group 2, atomic size increases pushing the outer electrons farther from the nucleus. This results in weaker attraction between the nucleus and valence electrons, making it easier for these atoms to lose electrons and participate in reactions. Consequently, magnesium is less reactive than calcium, which in turn is less reactive than barium, following the expected periodic trend. 

                                                       Potassium:

The Power Behind Every Pulse! This slogan shows how important potassium is for keeping us alive and helping our bodies work. Potassium is this super important thing called an electrolyte that helps muscles work right, especially the heart, so yeah, it’s a pretty big deal. I came up with this slogan after checking out science stuff online, looking at my notes, and just learning about what potassium does. All this info made me realize potassium is like a superhero that keeps our hearts beating and our brains working.

The Potassium Kid is totally like a superhero version of potassium. He’s got some awesome powers, like fixing weird heartbeats and making them normal again, which is a big deal because it can save lives. He can also send electric signals through your nerves to make things work faster and better, kind of like a Wi-Fi booster for your body. Plus, he’s super strong and can give other people a boost of energy when they’re tired. And he’s a Hydration Hero too, keeping everything balanced so no one gets dehydrated. He got his powers in this crazy lab accident where potassium and water exploded, but instead of getting hurt, he turned into The Potassium Kid. Now, he works to keep everyone’s body balanced and running right.

Potassium’s chemical symbol is K because of the Latin word “Kalium,” and it has an atomic number of 19. It’s part of this group called alkali metals, and it’s a silvery metal that’s super soft and reacts really strongly with water. Like, if potassium touches water, it’s going to explode. Potassium is really important for nerves and muscles, and it also helps keep the amount of water in your body just right. The coolest thing about potassium is that it keeps your heart beating like it should. Potassium was discovered by this dude named Sir Humphry Davy way back in 1807. He used electricity to figure out how to get it out of potash. We get potassium from stuff like bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and yogurt. If you don’t get enough potassium, you could feel super tired, your muscles could feel weak, and your heartbeat could get messed up. Potassium is also used to make fertilizers, soap, and glass, which is pretty cool.

Potassium does way more than just help people stay healthy. It’s also super important for farming. Most of the potassium in the world is used in fertilizers to help plants grow better. Without it, crops wouldn’t grow right, and there’d be a lot less food for people to eat. Farmers really depend on potassium to keep their plants healthy and strong. If there wasn’t enough potassium, it could lead to food shortages and all kinds of problems. Potassium is basically a lifesaver for plants and the people who eat them. Scientists are even working on ways to use potassium in smarter ways to help grow even more food for the future. Potassium makes a huge difference when it comes to feeding the growing population. The way it supports plants helps them not just survive but thrive in tough conditions, like droughts or extreme weather, which are becoming more common.

Potassium is also part of some really cool tech stuff. Scientists are looking at making batteries with potassium instead of lithium because there’s a lot more potassium in the world, and it’s better for the environment. Lithium is great and all, but there’s not a ton of it, so finding something else is a smart idea. Potassium batteries could be cheaper and easier to make, which would help with stuff like electric cars and storing energy from solar panels. It’s kind of amazing that something so simple like potassium could be a big part of fixing energy problems around the world. It shows that even old-school elements like potassium can be part of the future. This also connects to how scientists are thinking about more efficient ways to power the things we use every day. It’s crazy to think how much potential potassium has in changing the world.

Potassium reacts in this super intense way with water. Like, when potassium hits water, it creates this huge explosion with hydrogen gas and heat. That’s how energetic it is. In our bodies, potassium is just as important. It keeps everything moving, like making muscles contract and helping nerves send messages. Without potassium, your body would just stop working. Potassium also helps plants grow strong and fight off diseases, so it’s a big deal for farming too. Farmers even say it helps crops deal with bad weather and stuff like that. Potassium is always doing something awesome, whether it’s helping your heart, nerves, or food. The way it interacts with everything around it proves it’s one of the most essential elements we have.

The Potassium Kid’s story shows why this element is such a big deal. It’s not just something in science class; it’s in everything we do, from staying healthy to making sure there’s enough food to eat. Potassium is kind of like the unsung hero of the periodic table. It doesn’t get as much attention as some other elements, but without it, life wouldn’t be the same. With potassium keeping every heartbeat steady and every nerve working, it’s clear we all need it. Potassium really is the power behind every pulse, and knowing more about it shows how it connects to so much in our world, from technology to farming and beyond. When you think about it, potassium deserves way more credit for all the amazing things it does to keep everything going smoothly.