POTASSIUM CARBONATE

Potassium carbonate, K2CO3, appears
as a white powder or as colorless solid crystal and has a salty taste.
Also known as potash or pearl ash, it may be used in pharmaceutical laboratories as a drying agent or as a source of potassium. It also used in fire extinguishers, to make soap, to make glass, and to soften water.

What is Potassium Carbonate?

K2CO3 is an inorganic compound with chemical name Potassium carbonate.

It is also called Carbonate of potash, or Dipotassium carbonate or Pearl ash. It is a dipotassium salt of carbonic acid. It is widely used in the production of glass and soap.

Pearl ash is hygroscopic, deliquescent powder white in colour. It is odourless and tastes like alkaline. It is readily soluble in water but insoluble in ethanol, acetone, and alcohol. It has a pH of 11.6. It is a primary component of potash.

Historically, Dipotassium carbonate was created by baking potash in a kiln. The white powder produced was the potassium carbonate. In the year 1790, Samuel Hopkins was awarded the first patent which was issued by the US Patent Office for an improved method of pearl ash and making potash.

Potassium Carbonate Structure – K2CO3