Glossary: K

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kelvin. (K)

The SI base unit of temperature, defined by assigning 273.16 K to the temperature at which steam, ice, and water are at equilibrium (called the triple point of water). The freezing point of water is 273.15 K.

ketone. (R-CO-R')

An organic compound that contains a carbonyl group. For example, methyl ethyl ketone is CH₃CO_CH2_CH3_ is used in some adhesives.

kilo-. (k)

Prefix used in the SI system meaning "one thousand of". For example 1 km means "one thousand meters"; 2.8 kg could also be written "2.8 × 10³ g" or "2800 g".

kilogram. (kg)

The kilogram (kg) is the base unit of mass in the SI system of units. The standard kilogram is a 1 kg corrosion resistant platinum/iridium cylinder, carefully preserved in the suburbs of Paris (with a backup copy kept in Gaithersburg, Maryland.) Efforts are underway to replace these artifacts by redefining the kilogram as the mass of a certain number of silicon atoms.

kinetic energy. Compare with potential energy.

The energy an object possesses by virtue of its motion. An object of mass m moving at velocity v has a kinetic energy of ½mv².

K_w. Kw.

Symbol for the autoprotolysis constant for water, equal to 1.01 × 10^-14 at 25°C.

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Copyright © 1997-2010 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/glossary/k.shtml