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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.

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14y ago

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Can you make potassium hydroxide by mixing potassium sulfate and calcium hydroxide?

No, potassium hydroxide cannot be made by mixing potassium sulfate and calcium hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide is typically produced through the electrolysis of potassium chloride. Mixing potassium sulfate and calcium hydroxide would not result in the formation of potassium hydroxide.


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The chemical formula KOH stands for potassium hydroxide. It is a strong base commonly used in industry and laboratory settings.


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Potassium hydroxide can be made by reacting potassium carbonate with calcium hydroxide. This reaction produces potassium hydroxide and calcium carbonate as byproducts.


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The word (equation)/name is 'potassium hydroxide'. Its chemical formula is 'KOH'. However, for it to be an equation, what do you want to react with it????


What is the forumual for potassium hydroxide?

potassium hydroxide formula- KOH


What is the chemical for potassium hydroxide?

The formula for potassium hydroxide is KOH.


The name for KOH?

KOH is potassium hydroxide.


What the chemical formula for potassium hydroxide?

The formula for potassium hydroxide is KOH.


If you use potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide what salt would you make?

If you use potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide, you would make potassium salts instead of sodium salts. For example, if you reacted potassium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid, you would produce potassium chloride.


What is the difference in sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide?

The difference is that sodium hydroxide contains the sodium ion (Na+) while potassium hydroxide contains the potassium ion (K+). Sodium and potassium are two different elements, though they have different properties.


Which is more soluble barium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide?

Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is more soluble than barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2) in water. This is because potassium hydroxide forms a stronger ion-dipole interaction with water molecules compared to barium hydroxide.


What is a Common name of potassium hydroxide?

The common name of potassium hydroxide is caustic potash. Historically, lye was potassium hydroxide, but the meaning has since changed to include sodium hydroxide