Normalized momentum-transfer cross sections and differential and integral cross sections for elastic scattering and for the excitation of the 4 p 2 P 3 2 , 1 and the (~S~S ,~ + 3 d 2 D 5 2 , 3 2 ) levels in potassium are reported at 6.7, 16 and 60 eV impact energies. There is considerable disagreement between the present experimental results and previous optical excitation measurements and theoretical results. Autoionization features associated with the 3p inner-shell excitations, some of which have been observed previously in optical absorption and ejected-electron spectra, have been detected in the electron impact energy-loss spectrum Williams W and Trajmar S 1974 Phys. Kec. Lett. 33 187 Zapesochnpi I P. Postoi E hT and Aleksakhin I S 1975 Zh. Eltsp. Teor. Fiz. 68 1724 Zapesochnyi I P and Shimon L L 1966 Opt. Specrrosc. 21 155 -1976 J . P h~s . B: Atofn. Molec. P~ZJS. 9 1529