The electrolysis symbol for Potassium is k isn't it? Why did the Americans give the electrolysis symbol for Potassium as "K" instead of "P"?

That is the question of a 12 year old boy who's science teacher were explaining the electrolysis theory. His teacher was flabbergasted, he didn't know what to say but to answer this boy. He told this boy that, I am glad you asked me this question. I was wondering when you'll ask. He said, America is a country where people from all parts of Europe came and settled here mostly people from Britain, Scandinavian and Germans mainly. But even though most Americans are from British and Scandinavian ancestry, the American Language is heavily based on German. This is what he told that boy. <br><br>He then told the boy, he told him that in German the *Potassium* is spelt as *Kalium*, hence the "K". That's why we use the symbol "K" for Potassium during electrolysis. The teacher said, if an American was speaking in German, he'll say, Kalium has got 19 atomic mass. <br> <br>Remember this story, this might come handy in the future. <br><br>Another day, at the same school a kid asked to the same teacher another question. Sir, does the chemical element *silver* really glitter like a silver metal? The teacher was flabbergasted, he was wondering when this boy would ask him. He was glad as he asked him and he can finally answer the question that was in his mind during his own high school days. <br><br>The teacher again was delighted to answer that boy, he told that boy, boy, you won't believe me, but *Silver* in German is called *Silber*. That's why it is represented as *Ag* which is called *Argentum* in Latin. Not because Silver has *Ag* symbol by default but because, the ancient Germanic tribes are the one who traded the metal the most. So the symbol *Ag* has been derived from *Germanic* *Silber*. Not because of *Latin* *argentum*, but because the ancient Germanic tribes where the one who traded with *Silber* the most. <br><br><br>Remember this story boy, this might come handy in the future. <br><br>After 3-4 years, the 2 boys, who asked about the symbols for *Potassium* and *Silver* meets at a grocery store in their locality. One was sipping wine, while the other was just tasting it. Remembering their high school days the boy who was sipping wine asked the other boy, boy, why is *Wine* spelled as *Wien*? You think the Americans calls it *vin* or *vine*? Why is it called *Wine* instead of *Vine*? <br><br>Remember that story and that science teacher who told us about Silver being *Silber* and Potassium being *Kalium*. That's why Americans calls it *Wine* instead of *vine* because in German it is spelt as *Wain*. Is that right? <br><br>The boy sipping wine was flabbergasted, he was wondering when the other boy would ask this question. He was glad as he asked him and he can finally answer the question that was in his mind during his own high school days. <br><br>Boy, I am glad you asked me this question. He told the boy, I was wondering when you'll ask. He said, America is a country where people from all parts of Europe came and settled here mostly people from Britain, Scandinavian and Germans mainly. But even though most Americans might be from British and Scandinavian ancestry, the American *Wine* is heavily based on German. This is what he told that boy. <br><br>He then told the boy, he told him that in German the *Wine* is spelt as *Wein*, hence the "Wine" instead of "vine". You see in the past, the Americans was getting a lot of wine from a country called Austria, which was then an integral part of Germany. [*The dual monarchy*]. The Americans called the wine from Austria as *Viennese wine* although they pronounce it as *Wine*. But because there was no borders between the two empires [*German Empire and Austro-Hungarians*] the Americans had to differentiate the wine coming from Austria and the wine coming from the rest of Germany. Hence they had to call it *Wine* instead of *Vine*. That's why it is represented as "W" which is called "W" in German. <br><br><br>Remember this story boy, this might come handy in the future. <br><br>The boy who was tasting the wine was flabbergasted. He didn't know what to say. *Was he calling me a fool?* He thought to himself and he left the market immediately. The other boy was laughing at him. He went to his house and told this story to his mom. <br><br>Mom, today I was at the market, I met my classmate. I was testing the wine, he was sipping the bottle. After a while, I went to him and I asked him, why is *Wine* spelled as *Wien*? You think the Americans calls it *vin* or *vine*? Why is it called *Wine* instead of *vine*? <br><br>Mom, he didn't even look at me, it was as if he was waiting for me when I'll ask him. He then started saying, mom, he was like rehearsing this for the last 2 decades. He started his monologue like this, boy, I am glad you asked me this question. I was wondering when you'll ask, he said. He said, America is a country where people from all parts of Europe came and settled here mostly people from Britain, Scandinavian and Germans mainly. But even though most Americans might be from British and Scandinavian ancestry, the American *Wine* is heavily based on German. This is what he told me. <br><br>Then he started speaking something, my ears were ringing, mom, I didn't understood a word, he then told me that, he told me that in German the *Wine* is spelt as *Wein*, hence the "Wine" instead of "vine". You see in the past, the Americans was getting a lot of wine from a country called Austria, which was then an integral part of Germany. [*The dual monarchy*]. The Americans called the wine from Austria as *Viennese wine* although they pronounce it as *Wine*. But because there was no borders between the two empires [*German Empire and Austro-Hungarians*] the Americans had to differentiate the wine coming from Austria and the wine coming from the rest of Germany. Hence they had to call *Wine* instead of Vine. That's why it is represented as "W" which is called "W" in German. <br><br><br>And mom, he then told me to "Remember this story boy, this might come handy in the future".<br><br><br>Mom, I didn't knew what to say, I felt embarrassed, I felt as if I was a fool. <br><br>His mom then scolded her son for letting her down. She told her son, how did you let me down? I told you when you'll ask him that question, you should answer him like this. She told her son. <br><br>Son, I am glad you asked me this question. I was wondering when you'll ask, she said. She said, America is a country where people from all parts of Europe came and settled here mostly people from Britain, Scandinavian and Portuguese mainly. But even though most Americans might be from British and Scandinavian ancestry, the American *Wine* is heavily based on Portuguese. This is what she told her son. <br><br>She then told her son that, she told him that in Portuguese the *Wine* is spelt as *Vinho*, hence the "Wine" instead of "vine". You see in the past, the Americans was getting a lot of wine from a country called Portugal. The Americans called the wine from Portugal as *Vinha wine* although they pronounce it as *Wine*. But because there was no borders between the two empires [*Portuguese Empire and Spanish Empire*] the Americans had to differentiate the wine coming from Portugal and not the wine coming from the rest of Iberians. Hence they had to call it *Wine* instead of *vine*. That's why it is represented as "W" which is called "Vin" in Portuguese. <br><br><br>Remember this story son, this might come handy in the future, she told her son. <br><br> [*The Dual Monarchy and Iberian Union might be fictional, do you own research before believing anything I am saying.*]