Potamospongiæ
(||Pot`a*mo*spon"gi*æ) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. river + a sponge.] (Zoöl.) The fresh-water sponges.
See Spongilla.
Potance
(Po"tance) n. [F. potence. See Potence, Potency.] (Watch Making) The stud in which the
bearing for the lower pivot of the verge is made.
Potargo
(Po*tar"go) n. [Cf. Botargo.] A kind of sauce or pickle. King.
Potash
(Pot"ash`) n. [Pot + ash.] (Chem.) (a) The hydroxide of potassium hydrate, a hard white
brittle substance, KOH, having strong caustic and alkaline properties; — hence called also caustic potash.
(b) The impure potassium carbonate obtained by leaching wood ashes, either as a strong solution or as
a white crystalline
Potashes
(Pot"ash`es) n. pl. (Chem.) Potash. [Obs.]
Potassa
(Po*tas"sa) n. [NL., fr. E. potash.] (Chem.) (a) Potassium oxide. [Obs.] (b) Potassium
hydroxide, commonly called caustic potash.
Potassamide
(Pot`ass*am"ide) n. [Potassium + amide.] (Chem.) A yellowish brown substance obtained
by heating potassium in ammonia.
Potassic
(Po*tas"sic) a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, potassium.
Potassium
(Po*tas"si*um) n. [NL. See Potassa, Potash.] (Chem.) An Alkali element having atomic
number 19, occurring abundantly but always combined, as in the chloride, sulphate, carbonate, or silicate,
in the minerals sylvite, kainite, orthoclase, muscovite, etc. Atomic weight 39.1. Symbol K
It is reduced from the carbonate as a soft white metal, lighter than water, which oxidizes with the greatest
readiness, and, to be preserved, must be kept under liquid hydrocarbons, as naphtha or kerosene. Its
compounds are very important, being used in glass making, soap making, in fertilizers, and in many
drugs and chemicals.
Potassium permanganate, the salt KMnO4, crystallizing in dark red prisms having a greenish surface
color, and dissolving in water with a beautiful purple red color; — used as an oxidizer and disinfectant.
The name chameleon mineral is applied to this salt and also to potassium manganate. — Potassium
bitartrate. See Cream of tartar, under Cream.
