Sodium is perferred over potassium in industrial applications because...?

Question

a) sodium salts are easily decomposed

b) sodium is produced more economically

c) potassium oxidizes more slowly in air

d) potassium has a higher melting temperature

Answer 1

b) Sodium is much more common than potassium, and so its salts are cheaper.

Potassium oxidizes more quickly in air than sodium does, but the pure metals are rarely used in industry (reducing active metals such as uranium and lanthanides are their main use, along with sodium amide and azide production).  Potassium has a lower melting temperature, and the salts of both are extremely stable, so the other choices are incorrect.