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Home Inorganic Compounds Potassium Potassium Carbonate
 
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Potassium Carbonate

Author: Hans Lohninger

Potassium carbonate, K2CO3, or potash(1), is highly soluble in water, forming an alkaline solution.

It is made by passing CO2 into a 50% potassium hydroxide solution:

2 KOH + CO2 K2CO3 + H2O

Potassium carbonate is used in the production of soap and glass and as a mild drying agent, especially for organic solvents.


(1) The name potash gave the chemical element potassium its English and French name. K2CO3 was called potash since it was extracted from wood ash being leached out by water in a pot.



Home Inorganic Compounds Potassium Potassium Carbonate

Last Update: 2011-03-18