Potassium carbonate

• CAS: 584-08-7
• Catalog Number: ACM584087
• Category: Metal & Ceramic Materials
• Molecular Weight: 138.205
• Molecular Formula: CK2O3
• Description: Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in ethanol) which forms a strongly alkaline solution. It can be made as the product of potassium hydroxide’s absorbent reaction with carbon dioxide. It is deliquescent, often appearing a damp or wet solid. Potassium carbonate is used in the production of soap and glass.
• Synonyms: Dipotassium cabonate
• IUPAC Name: Dipotassium;carbonate
• Canonical SMILES: C(=O)([O-])[O-].[K+].[K+]
• InChI: InChI=1S/CH₂O3.2K/c2-1(3)4;/h(H2,2,3,4);/q;2*+1/p-2
• InChI Key: BWHMMNNQKKPAPP-UHFFFAOYSA-L
• Boiling Point: Decomposes
• Melting Point: 891 °C
• Flash Point: 111ºC
• Density: 2.43 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
• Solubility: Very soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol
• Appearance: Yellow powder
• Application: Potassium carbonate serves a versatile role in various industries due to its chemical properties. Primarily used in the production of specialty glass and ceramics, it provides significant advantages over sodium carbonate, such as compatibility with lead, barium, and strontium oxides, which enhance the glass's qualities by lowering its melting point and increasing its refractive index for a more brilliant appearance. Additionally, potassium carbonate is a valuable component in the chemical industry as a source of inorganic potassium salts, which find applications in fertilizers, soaps, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. Its high water solubility and alkaline nature make it effective in agriculture, especially in treating acidic soils in vineyards and orchards, and it is a key ingredient in Dutch-processed cocoa for balancing acidity. With its diverse applications ranging from fire suppressants and CO2 absorbents to use in textiles and dyeing, potassium carbonate is an essential compound in modern industrial processes.
• Storage: Store at +5 °C to +30 °C
• Color/Form: Colorless cubic crystals; hygroscopic;Granules or granular powder;White, deliquescent, granular, translucent powder
• Complexity: 18.8
• Covalently-Bonded Unit Count: 3
• Decomposition: When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of K2O.
• EC Number: 209-529-3;209-529-3
• Exact Mass: 137.91215683
• Formal Charge: 0
• Hazard Codes: Xn
• H-Bond Acceptor: 3
• H-Bond Donor: 0
• Heavy Atom Count: 6
• HS Code: 2836400000
• ICSC Number: 1588
• LogP: -2.44700
• Monoisotopic Mass: 137.91215683
• Odor: Odorless
• Other Experimental: Hygroscopic;Enthalpy of fusion: 27.60 kJ/mol at 899 °C;Decomposes on heating with CO2 loss.;Deliquesces in moist air;K2CO3 forms several hydrates, of which K2CO3.1.5H₂O is the stable phase in contact with the saturated solution from 0 °C to about 110 °C.;Granular crystals; solubility 111 g/100 g water at 20 °C /Potassium carbonate sesquihydrate/;When it contains the full amount of water (16.36%) it is not hygroscopic. The aqueous solution is strongly alkaline. /Potassium carbonate sesquihydrate/
• PSA: 63.19
• RIDADR: UN 3262
• Rotatable Bond Count: 0
• RTECS Number: TS7750000
• Stability: Stable. Incompatible with moisture, acids, magnesium bromine trifluoride and magnesium bromine trichloride.
• Storage Conditions: Store at RT.
• Topological Polar Surface Area: 63.2 Ų
• UNII: BQN1B9B9HA
• WGK Germany: 1

Case Study

A Green Method to Deoxidize Graphene Oxide Using Potassium Carbonate as A Reducing Agent

He, Dongning, et al. RSC advances, 2015, 5(16), 11966-11972.

The preparation of graphene from graphene oxide (GO) via chemical exfoliation is an efficient approach, especially for the preparation of graphene on an industrial scale. Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) can be used as a safe, recyclable green chemical reducing agent to reduce graphene oxide. This is a green, simple and easy-to-scale GO deoxygenation process.
The reaction process of potassium carbonate deoxygenating GO
· On the one hand, the ionized oxygen produced by the electrochemical reaction between hydroxyl ions and oxygen in the presence of K2CO3 reacts with the attached carbonyl groups on the GO layer at 50 °C.
· On the other hand, ionized oxygen attacks the hydroxyl and epoxy groups, and they become carbonyl groups, which are then converted to carbon dioxide by K2CO3 at 90°C. These oxygen-containing groups are eventually converted from the graphene layer into CO2, leading to the formation of graphene sheets.