Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KOH.
Potassium hydroxide is also known as caustic potassium, lye and potassium lye. This alkali metal hydroxide is a very strong base. In its aqueous form, it has the appearance of a transparent solution. In its solid form, KOH can exist as white to pale yellow lumps, flakes, pellets, or rods. The compound has no characteristic odor in its solid state.
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Properties of potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide structural formula
Uses of potassium hydroxide
The chemical reaction that happens with KOH
Health hazards of KOH
Faqs - FaQs
Potassium hydroxide is soluble in water, ethanol, methanol and glycerol. Slightly soluble in ether. It's not flammable, but it's very corrosive. It is widely used in chemical manufacturing, cleaning compounds and petroleum refining.
Uses of potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide solutions are more conductive than NaOH and are therefore used as an electrolyte in some alkaline batteries.
Used as a pH control agent in the food industry.
It is used to thicken food.
It is used in semiconductor chip manufacturing.
It is used to make cuticle removers for nail treatments.
It is used to identify fungal species.
It is used on mercerized cotton.
It is used in alkalinity titration in analytical chemistry.
Used to make liquid fertilizer.
The chemical reaction that happens with KOH
1. Saponification of esters
The ester is saponified by heating with a known amount of potassium hydroxide in an organic solvent in a sealed tube. To be analytically useful, the reaction must be quantified over a reasonable period of time. One condition conducive to rapid and quantitative reactions is the use of the strongest possible base.
KOH plus RCOOR prime, RCOOK plus R 'oh
2. React with carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate
PH can be adjusted by adding hydroxide ions by adding lime, sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide, as hydroxide ions react with carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate alkalinity.
KOH + CO2 → KHCO3
