Potassium Testing Procedures

• The capped tube should be mixed until the tablet disintegrates. Invert the tube repeatedly allowing the air to travel from one end of the tube to another. Do not shake vigorously.
• Some tiny particles of the tablet may be visible once the tablet disintegrates. These particles will not totally dissolve and will not affect the test results.
• The chemical reagent in the potassium test produces cloudiness in the sample, based on how much potassium is present.
• By placing the reacted tube over the solid black squares the degree of cloudiness can be determined. Compare the "fuzziness" of the tube to the gray squares.
• Ignore any yellow or brown color that may be in the sample.