Results for potassium hydroxide
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Dictionary:

potassium hydroxide


n.

A caustic white solid, KOH, used as a bleach and in the manufacture of soaps, dyes, alkaline batteries, and many potassium compounds. Also called caustic potash, lye; Also called potash.


 
 
Columbia Encyclopedia: potassium hydroxide,
chemical compound with formula KOH. Pure potassium hydroxide forms white, deliquescent crystals. For commercial and laboratory use it is usually in the form of white pellets. A strong base, it dissolves readily in water, giving off much heat and forming a strongly alkaline, caustic solution (see acids and bases). It is commonly called caustic potash. It closely resembles sodium hydroxide in its chemical properties and has similar uses, e.g., in making soap, in bleaching, and in manufacturing chemicals, but is less widely used because of its higher cost. It is prepared chiefly by electrolysis of potassium chloride; commercial grades of it sometimes contain the chloride as well as other impurities.


 
Medical Dictionary: potassium hydroxide

n.

A caustic white solid used as a bleach and in the manufacture of soaps, dyes, and many potassium compounds. Also called potash.

 
WordNet: potassium hydroxide
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a potassium compound often used in agriculture and industry
  Synonyms: potash, caustic potash


 
Wikipedia: potassium hydroxide


Potassium hydroxide
Potassium_hydroxide.jpg
Other names Potash lye
Identifiers
CAS number 1310-58-3
RTECS number TT2100000
Properties
Molecular formula KOH
Molar mass 56.10564 g/mol
Appearance white solid,
deliquescent
Density 2.044 g/cm³, solid
Melting point

360 °C

Boiling point

1320 °C

Solubility in water 1100 g/L (25 °C)
Basicity (pKb) -2.29
Structure
Crystal structure monoclinic
Hazards
EU classification Corrosive (C)
NFPA 704

NFPA_704.svg

0
3
1
 
R-phrases R22, R35
S-phrases (S1/2), S26, S36/37/39, S45
Flash point non flammable
Related Compounds
Other anions Potassium oxide; Potassium peroxide; Potassium superoxide
Other cations Lithium hydroxide; Sodium hydroxide; Rubidium hydroxide; Caesium hydroxide
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

The chemical compound potassium hydroxide (KOH), sometimes known as caustic potash, potassa, potash lye, and potassium hydrate, is a metallic base. It is very alkaline and is a "strong base", along with sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide and strontium hydroxide.

Uses

Agriculture

Manufacturing and commercial chemical processes

KOH is a major industrial chemical because it is used as a base in a wide variety of chemical processes. Some uses of KOH include:

  • Acrylate ester copolymer coating
  • defoaming agents used in the manufacture of paper [4]
  • saponifying oils for liquid soap
  • Formulation aid for food[5]
  • pH control agent (raises pH by neutralizing acids)
  • Making polyethylene resins
  • Textile processing
  • As a catalyst in reactions like the production of biodiesel[6].
  • Manufacture of many cleaning products[7], such as:
    • Washing powders
    • Cleansers (for tubs, tile, etc)
    • Some denture cleaners
    • Non-phosphate detergents
    • Drain or pipe cleaners (clog dissolvers)
    • Widely used in carpet cleaning degreasers
  • Manufacture of alkaline batteries, which use an aqueous solution of KOH as an electrolyte[8]. Thus, potassium hydroxide helps to power flashlights, smoke detectors, and other battery-powered household items.
  • As an anisotropic etchant of silicon[9], exposing octahedral planes. This technique can create pyramids[10] and regularly-shaped etch pits for uses such as microelectromechanical systems systems.

Medicine (human and veterinary)

Food preparation

Food uses of KOH include:

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.potassium-hydroxide.com
  2. ^ http://www.weichtiere.at/Mollusks/Schnecken/weinberg.html
  3. ^ http://www.hydroponicsearch.com/Explore_the_Science_of_Hydroponics/Plants/Potassium_hydroxide/
  4. ^ http://www.p2pays.org/ref%5C02/01258.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=311
  6. ^ http://biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=462
  7. ^ http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter2-2-1.html
  8. ^ http://www.powerstream.com/BatteryFAQ.html
  9. ^ http://snf.stanford.edu/Materials/ChemFiles/KOHEtch.html
  10. ^ http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2003.11.013
  11. ^ http://dermatology.about.com/library/bldefpothyrox.htm
  12. ^ http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/full/18/6/561

External links


 
 

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Potassium hydroxide" Read more

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