POTASSIUM CARBONATE

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
CAS NO.

584-08-7

POTASSIUM CARBONATE
EINECS NO.

209-529-3
FORMULA

K2CO3
MOL WT. 138.21

H.S. CODE

 2836.40
TOXICITY Oral rat LD50: 1870 mg/kg
SYNONYMS Potash; Salt of Tartar; Carbonic acid, Dipotassium salt;
Potassium carbonate (2:1); Kaliumcarbonat; Pearl ash;
DERIVATION

by the reaction of carbon dioxide with potassium chloride + magnesium oxide (Engel-Precht process) or electrolytic caustic lye.

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL STATE

white powder or granular
MELTING POINT

891 C
BOILING POINT Decomposes
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.29
SOLUBILITY IN WATER

soluble (insoluble in alcohol)
pH 11.6 (Aqueous solution)
VAPOR DENSITY  

AUTOIGNITION

 

NFPA RATINGS

 Health: 2 Flammability: 0 Reactivity: 1

REFRACTIVE INDEX

 
FLASH POINT Not considered to be a fire hazard
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions

APPLICATIONS

Potassium Carbonate is used in glasses, ceramics, explosives, fertilizers,and glazes industry, in the the manufacture of soft soaps, inorganic salts, and in dyeing and wool finishing.
SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

white powder

ASSAY

98.5% min
CHLORIDES

0.1% max
SULPHATES

0.1% max
Fe

0.003% max
WATER INSOLUBLES

0.05% max
HEAVY METALS

10ppm max
MEAN PARTICLE SIZE

0.25 - 1mm

TRANSPORTATION
PACKING 50kgs in bag
HAZARD CLASS listed on the TSCA inventory
UN NO.  
REMARKS

Commercially anhydrous and 1.5 hydrated forms are available. K2CO3 (melting point at 891 C) decomposes before boiled. 2K2CO3.3H2O dehydrates to K2CO3.H2O at 100 C and to K2CO3 at 130 C.