Is potassium hydroxide safe to eat?

Answer 1

Depends on the method of contact. KOH (potassium hydroxide) is known by a variety of names, such as lye or potash (though lye can also refer to sodium hydroxide). It is one of the strongest bases stable in water, and is often used for its basicity and nucleophilicity in all forms of chemistry.

In humans, the estimated lethal dose is 5 grams (not weight dependent due to mechanism not being one of toxicology). It is extremely caustic and causes severe burns (skin is actually somewhat acidic and is also somewhat reactive). It can give off carbon monoxide when it reacts with carbohydrates (I won't get into the mechanism). Its reaction with water is very exothermic (gives off a lot of heat).

So, to answer your question, "what does it kill", pretty much everything except for probably a few extremophile microorganisms.

I am a biochemistry major at a university and have worked with this substance quite often.

Answer 2

Do not try to eat it! Potassium hydroxide is a strong base that can cause severe chemical burns when touched and can cause serious internal injury or death if ingested.

Answer 3

It is not a poison as a compound. It causes skin harms and irritations and is fatal in large doses.

Answer 4

it is contained inside jam and chocolate so it is not deadly and when you mix it with water,it becomes lemon lime & bitters!

Answer 5

Yes, it is poisonous.