Potassium bicarbonate explained

Potassium bicarbonate should not be confused with Sodium bicarbonate.

Potassium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: potassium hydrogencarbonate, also known as potassium acid carbonate) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula KHCO3. It is a white solid.[1]

Production and reactivity

It is manufactured by treating an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate with carbon dioxide:[1]

K2CO3 + CO2 + H2O → 2 KHCO3Decomposition of the bicarbonate occurs between 100and:

2 KHCO3 → K2CO3 + CO2 + H2OThis reaction is employed to prepare high purity potassium carbonate.

Uses

Food and drink

This compound is a source of carbon dioxide for leavening in baking. It can substitute for baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) for those with a low-sodium diet,[2] and it is an ingredient in low-sodium baking powders.[3] [4]

As an inexpensive, nontoxic base, it is widely used in diverse application to regulate pH or as a reagent. Examples include as buffering agent in medications, an additive in winemaking.

Potassium bicarbonate is often added to bottled water to improve taste,[5] and is also used in club soda.

Medical uses and health

Higher potassium intake may prevent development of kidney stone disease.[6] Higher potassium intake is associated with a reduced risk of stroke.[7]

Fire extinguishers

Potassium bicarbonate is used as a fire suppression agent ("BC dry chemical") in some dry chemical fire extinguishers, as the principal component of the Purple-K dry chemical, and in some applications of condensed aerosol fire suppression. It is the only dry chemical fire suppression agent recognized by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association for firefighting at airport crash rescue sites. It is about twice as effective in fire suppression as sodium bicarbonate.[8]

Agriculture

Potassium bicarbonate has widespread use in crops, especially for neutralizing acidic soil.[9]

Potassium bicarbonate is an effective fungicide against powdery mildew and apple scab, allowed for use in organic farming.[10] [11] [12] [13]

Potassium bicarbonate is a contact killer for Spanish moss when mixed cup per gallon.[14]

History

The word saleratus, from Latin sal æratus meaning "aerated salt", first used in the nineteenth century, refers to both potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: H. Schultz . G. Bauer . E. Schachl . F. Hagedorn . P. Schmittinger . Potassium Compounds. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2005. Wiley-VCH. Weinheim. 10.1002/14356007.a22_039. 3-527-30673-0.
  2. Web site: Potassium Bicarbonate . encyclopedia.com . Cengage . May 29, 2020.
  3. Web site: Home cooking with less salt . harvard.edu . March 2020 . Harvard University . May 29, 2020.
  4. Web site: Wilkens . Katy G. . You Have the (Baking) Power with Low-Sodium Baking Powders . agingkingcounty.org . 15 December 2018 . Aging & Disability Services for Seattle & King County . May 29, 2020.
  5. Web site: Why Your Bottled Water Contains Four Different Ingredients . Time Magazine . July 24, 2014.
  6. He FJ, MacGregor GA . Beneficial effects of potassium on human health . . 133 . 4 . 725–735 . 2008 . 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2007.01033.x . 18724413.
  7. Vinceti M, Filippini T, Orsini N . Meta-Analysis of Potassium Intake and the Risk of Stroke . . 5 . 10 . e004210 . 2016 . 10.1161/JAHA.116.004210 . 5121516 . 27792643.
  8. Web site: Purple-K-Powder . US Naval Research Laboratory . 8 February 2012 . 15 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090215131044/http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=PURPLEK .
  9. Web site: Potassium Bicarbonate Handbook . Armand Products Company . 2016-09-06 . 2021-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122152900/https://www.armandproducts.com/pdfs/PotBiVs6.PDF .
  10. Web site: Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide . 2010-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100507163427/http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/bakingsoda.html . 2010-05-07 .
  11. Web site: Powdery Mildew - Sustainable Gardening Australia . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205955/http://www.sgaonline.org.au/info_powderymildew.html . 2016-03-03 .
  12. Web site: Organic Fruit Production in Michigan.
  13. Web site: Efficacy of Armicarb (potassium bicarbonate) against scab and sooty blotch on apples .
  14. Web site: How to Toss Your Spanish Moss . 4 December 2020 . SkyFrog landscape company.
  15. Web site: saleratus . merriam-webster.com . Merriam-Webster . May 29, 2020.

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