Potassium

hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic

compound with the formula KOH, and is
commonly called caustic potash.
 Potassium hydroxide

Names

IUPAC name
Potassium hydroxide
Other names
Caustic potash, Lye, Potash lye, Potassia,
Potassium hydrate, KOH

Identifiers
CAS Number 1310-58-3  

3D model (JSmol) Interactive image

ChEBI CHEBI:32035  

ChemSpider 14113  

ECHA InfoCard 100.013.802

EC Number 215-181-3
E number E525 (acidity
regulators, ...)
PubChem CID 14797

RTECS number TT2100000

UNII WZH3C48M4T  

UN number 1813
CompTox Dashboard DTXSID5029633
(EPA)

InChI
InChI=1S/K.H2O/h;1H2/q+1;/p-1 
Key: KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M 

InChI=1/K.H2O/h;1H2/q+1;/p-1
Key: KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-REWHXWOFAT

SMILES
[K+].[OH-]

Properties
Chemical formula KOH

Molar mass 56.11 g mol−1

Appearance white solid,

deliquescent

Odor odorless

Density 2.044 g/cm3 (20 °C)[1]

2.12 g/cm3 (25 °C)[2]

Melting point 360 [3] °C (680 °F;

633 K)

Boiling point 1,327 °C (2,421 °F;

1,600 K)
Solubility in water 85 g/100 mL (-23.2 °C)
 97 g/100 mL (0 °C)
121 g/100 mL (25 °C)
138.3 g/100 mL (50 °C)
162.9 g/100 mL (100
°C)[1][4]

Solubility soluble in alcohol,

glycerol
insoluble in ether, liquid
ammonia

Solubility in methanol 55 g/100 g (28 °C)[2]

Solubility in isopropanol ~14 g / 100 g (28 °C)

Basicity (pKb) −0.7[5](KOH(aq) = K+ +

 OH –)
Magnetic susceptibility −22.0·10 −6 cm3/mol
(χ)
Refractive index (nD) 1.409 (20 °C)

Structure
Crystal structure rhombohedral

Thermochemistry

Heat capacity (C) 65.87 J/mol·K[2]

Std molar 79.32 J/mol·K[2][6]
entropy (So 298)

Std enthalpy of -425.8 kJ/mol[2][6]

formation (ΔfH⦵298)
Gibbs free energy
(ΔfG˚) -380.2 kJ/mol[2]
Hazards

Safety data sheet ICSC 0357

GHS pictograms [7]

GHS Signal word Danger

GHS hazard H302, H314[7]
statements
GHS precautionary P280, P305+351+338,
statements
P310 [7]

NFPA 704 0
3 0
ALK
(fire diamond)

Flash point Non-flammable

Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose) 273 mg/kg (oral, rat)[9]

NIOSH (US health exposure limits):

PEL (Permissible) none[8]

REL (Recommended) C 2 mg/m3[8]

IDLH (Immediate N.D.[8]

danger)
Related compounds
Other anions Potassium hydrosulfide
Potassium amide
Other cations Lithium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide
 Rubidium hydroxide
Caesium hydroxide
Related compounds Potassium oxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C
[77 °F], 100 kPa).

 verify (what is   ?)

Infobox references

Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), this

colorless solid is a prototypical strong base. It
has many industrial and niche applications,
most of which exploit its caustic nature and
its reactivity toward acids. An estimated
700,000 to 800,000 tonnes were produced in
2005. KOH is noteworthy as the precursor to
most soft and liquid soaps, as well as
numerous potassium-containing chemicals. It
is a white solid that is dangerously corrosive.
Most commercial samples are ca. 90% pure,
the remainder being water and carbonates.[10]

Properties and structure

Potassium hydroxide is usually sold as
translucent pellets, which become tacky in
air because KOH is hygroscopic.
Consequently, KOH typically contains varying
amounts of water (as well as carbonates -
see below). Its dissolution in water is strongly
exothermic. Concentrated aqueous solutions
are sometimes called potassium lyes. Even
at high temperatures, solid KOH does not
dehydrate readily.[11]

Structure E…
At higher temperatures, solid KOH
crystallizes in the NaCl crystal structure. The
OH group is either rapidly or randomly
disordered so that the  OH− group is
effectively a spherical anion of radius 1.53 Å
− −
(between Cl and F in size). At room
temperature, the  OH− groups are ordered
+
and the environment about the K centers is
+ −
distorted, with K—OH distances ranging from
2.69 to 3.15 Å, depending on the orientation of
the OH group. KOH forms a series of
crystalline hydrates, namely the
monohydrate KOH • H2O, the dihydrate
KOH • 2H2O and the tetrahydrate
KOH • 4H2O.[12]

Thermal stability E…

Like NaOH, KOH exhibits high thermal

stability. The gaseous species is dimeric.
Because of its high stability and relatively low
melting point, it is often melt-cast as pellets
or rods, forms that have low surface area
and convenient handling properties.
Reactions

Basicity, solubility and desiccating

properties
E…

About 121 g of KOH dissolve in 100 mL water

at room temperature, which contrasts with
100 g/100 mL for NaOH. Thus on a molar basis,
KOH is slightly more soluble than NaOH.
Lower molecular-weight alcohols such as
methanol, ethanol, and propanols are also
excellent solvents. They participate in an
acid-base equilibrium. In the case of methanol
the potassium methoxide (methylate) forms:
[13]

KOH + CH3OH CH3OK + H2O

Because of its high affinity for water, KOH

serves as a desiccant in the laboratory. It is
often used to dry basic solvents, especially
amines and pyridines.

As a nucleophile in organic chemistry E…

KOH, like NaOH, serves as a source of  OH−, a
highly nucleophilic anion that attacks polar
bonds in both inorganic and organic materials.
Aqueous KOH saponifies esters:

KOH + RCOOR' → RCOOK + R'OH

When R is a long chain, the product is called a

potassium soap. This reaction is manifested
by the "greasy" feel that KOH gives when
touched — fats on the skin are rapidly
converted to soap and glycerol.
Molten KOH is used to displace halides and
other leaving groups. The reaction is
especially useful for aromatic reagents to
give the corresponding phenols.[14]

Reactions with inorganic compounds E…

Complementary to its reactivity toward acids,

KOH attacks oxides. Thus, SiO2 is attacked by
KOH to give soluble potassium silicates. KOH
reacts with carbon dioxide to give
bicarbonate:
 KOH + CO2 → KHCO3

Manufacture
Historically, KOH was made by adding
potassium carbonate to a strong solution of
calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) The salt
metathesis reaction results in precipitation of
solid calcium carbonate, leaving potassium
hydroxide in solution:

Ca(OH)2 + K2CO3 → CaCO3 + 2 KOH

Filtering off the precipitated calcium

carbonate and boiling down the solution gives
potassium hydroxide ("calcinated or caustic
potash"). This method of producing potassium
hydroxide remained dominant until the late
19th century, when it was largely replaced by
the current method of electrolysis of
potassium chloride solutions.[10] The method is
analogous to the manufacture of sodium
hydroxide (see chloralkali process):

2 KCl + 2 H2O → 2 KOH + Cl2 + H2

Hydrogen gas forms as a byproduct on the

cathode; concurrently, an anodic oxidation of
the chloride ion takes place, forming chlorine
gas as a byproduct. Separation of the anodic
and cathodic spaces in the electrolysis cell is
essential for this process.[15]

Uses
KOH and NaOH can be used interchangeably
for a number of applications, although in
industry, NaOH is preferred because of its
lower cost.

Precursor to other potassium E…

compounds

Many potassium salts are prepared by

neutralization reactions involving KOH. The
potassium salts of carbonate, cyanide,
permanganate, phosphate, and various
silicates are prepared by treating either the
oxides or the acids with KOH.[10] The high
solubility of potassium phosphate is desirable
in fertilizers.

Manufacture of soft soaps E…

The saponification of fats with KOH is used to
prepare the corresponding "potassium soaps",
which are softer than the more common
sodium hydroxide-derived soaps. Because of
their softness and greater solubility,
potassium soaps require less water to
liquefy, and can thus contain more cleaning
agent than liquefied sodium soaps.[16]

As an electrolyte E…
Potassium carbonate, formed from the hydroxide

solution leaking from an alkaline battery

Aqueous potassium hydroxide is employed

as the electrolyte in alkaline batteries based
on nickel-cadmium, nickel-hydrogen, and
manganese dioxide-zinc. Potassium hydroxide
is preferred over sodium hydroxide because
its solutions are more conductive.[17] The
nickel–metal hydride batteries in the Toyota
Prius use a mixture of potassium hydroxide
and sodium hydroxide.[18] Nickel–iron
batteries also use potassium hydroxide
electrolyte.

Food industry E…

In food products, potassium hydroxide acts as

a food thickener, pH control agent and food
stabilizer. The FDA considers it (as a direct
human food ingredient) as generally safe
when combined with "good" manufacturing
practice conditions of use.[19] It is known in the
E number system as E525.

Niche applications E…

Like sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide

attracts numerous specialized applications,
virtually all of which rely on its properties as
a strong chemical base with its consequent
ability to degrade many materials. For
example, in a process commonly referred to
as "chemical cremation" or "resomation",
potassium hydroxide hastens the
decomposition of soft tissues, both animal and
human, to leave behind only the bones and
other hard tissues.[20] Entomologists wishing
to study the fine structure of insect anatomy
may use a 10% aqueous solution of KOH to
apply this process.[21]

In chemical synthesis, the choice between the

use of KOH and the use of NaOH is guided by
the solubility or keeping quality of the
resulting salt.
The corrosive properties of potassium
hydroxide make it a useful ingredient in
agents and preparations that clean and
disinfect surfaces and materials that can
themselves resist corrosion by KOH.[15]

KOH is also used for semiconductor chip

fabrication. See also: anisotropic wet etching.

Potassium hydroxide is often the main active

ingredient in chemical "cuticle removers"
used in manicure treatments.
Because aggressive bases like KOH damage
the cuticle of the hair shaft, potassium
hydroxide is used to chemically assist the
removal of hair from animal hides. The hides
are soaked for several hours in a solution of
KOH and water to prepare them for the
unhairing stage of the tanning process. This
same effect is also used to weaken human
hair in preparation for shaving. Preshave
products and some shave creams contain
potassium hydroxide to force open the hair
cuticle and to act as a hygroscopic agent to
attract and force water into the hair shaft,
causing further damage to the hair. In this
weakened state, the hair is more easily cut
by a razor blade.

Potassium hydroxide is used to identify some

species of fungi. A 3–5% aqueous solution of
KOH is applied to the flesh of a mushroom
and the researcher notes whether or not the
color of the flesh changes. Certain species of
gilled mushrooms, boletes, polypores, and
lichens[22] are identifiable based on this color-
change reaction.[23]
Safety
Potassium hydroxide and its solutions are
severe irritants to skin and other tissue.[24]

See also
Potash
Soda lime
Saltwater soap – sailors' soap

References
1. Lide, D. R., ed. (2005). CRC Handbook of
 Chemistry and Physics (86th ed.). Boca
Raton (FL): CRC Press. p. 4-80. ISBN 0-
8493-0486-5.
2. "potassium hydroxide" . chemister.ru.
Archived from the original on 18 May
2014. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
3. "A18854 Potassium hydroxide" . Alfa
Aesar. Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Archived from the original on 19
October 2015. Retrieved 26 October
2015.
4. Seidell, Atherton; Linke, William F. (1952).
Solubilities of Inorganic and Organic
Compounds . Van Nostrand. Retrieved
2014-05-29.
5. Popov, K.; et al. (2002). "7Li, 23Na, 39K and
133Cs NMR comparative equilibrium
study of alkali metal cation hydroxide
complexes in aqueous solutions. First
numerical value for CsOH formation" .
Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 3
(5): 223–225. doi:10.1016/S1387-
 7003(02)00335-0 . ISSN 1387-7003 .
Retrieved October 20, 2018.
6. Zumdahl, Steven S. (2009). Chemical
Principles 6th Ed. Houghton Mifflin
Company. p. A22. ISBN 978-0-618-94690-
7.
7. Sigma-Aldrich Co., Potassium hydroxide .
Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
8. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards. "#0523" . National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
9. Chambers, Michael. "ChemIDplus - 1310-
58-3 - KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-
UHFFFAOYSA-M - Potassium hydroxide
[JAN:NF] - Similar structures search,
synonyms, formulas, resource links, and
other chemical information" .
chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov. Archived from the
original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved
8 May 2018.
10. Schultz, Heinz; Bauer, Günter; Schachl,
Erich; Hagedorn, Fritz; Schmittinger,
Peter (2005). "Potassium Compounds".
 Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial
Chemistry. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-
VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a22_039 .
ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
11. Holleman, A. F; Wiberg, E. (2001).
Inorganic Chemistry. San Diego:
Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-352651-
9.
12. Wells, A.F. (1984). Structural Inorganic
Chemistry. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
ISBN 978-0-19-855370-0.
13. Platonov, Andrew Y.; Kurzin, Alexander
V.; Evdokimov, Andrey N. (2009).
"Composition of Vapor and Liquid Phases
in the Potassium Hydroxide + Methanol
Reaction System at 25 °С". J. Solution
Chem. 39 (3): 335–342.
doi:10.1007/s10953-010-9505-1 .
14. W. W. Hartman (1923). "p-Cresol" .
Organic Syntheses. 3: 37.
doi:10.15227/orgsyn.003.0037 .;
Collective Volume, 1, p. 175
15. Römpp Chemie-Lexikon, 9th Ed. (in
German)
16. K. Schumann; K. Siekmann (2005).
"Soaps". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of
Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-
VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a24_247 .
ISBN 978-3527306732.
17. D. Berndt; D. Spahrbier (2005).
"Batteries". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of
Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-
VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_343 .
ISBN 978-3527306732.
18. "Toyota Prius Hybrid 2010 Model
Emergency Response Guide" (PDF).
Toyota Motor Corporation. 2009.
Archived from the original (PDF) on
2012-03-20.
19. "Compound Summary for CID 14797 -
Potassium Hydroxide" . PubChem.
20. Green, Margaret (January 1952). "A
RAPID METHOD FOR CLEARING AND
STAINING SPECIMENS FOR THE
DEMONSTRATION OF BONE" . The Ohio
Journal of Science. 52 (1): 31–33.
 Archived from the original on 8 January
2015. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
21. Thomas Eisner (2003). For the Love of
Insects. Harvard University Press. p. 71.
22. Elix, J.A.; Stocker-Wörgötter, Elfie (2008).
"Chapter 7: Biochemistry and secondary
metabolites". In Nash III, Thomas H. (ed.).
Lichen Biology (2nd ed.). New York:
Cambridge University Press. pp. 118–119.
ISBN 978-0-521-69216-8.
23. Testing Chemical Reactions Archived
2009-10-15 at the Wayback Machine at
 MushroomExpert.com
24. Potassium hydroxide, SIDS Initial
Assessment Report For SIAM 13. Bern,
Switzerland, 6-9 November 2001.
Archived 3 January 2018 at the
Wayback Machine By Dr. Thaly
LAKHANISKY. Date of last Update:
February 2002

External links

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 Newscientist article dn10104
MSDS from JTBaker
CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
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