Potassium Carbonate 99.9%

Potassium carbonate is the inorganic compound with the formula K₂CO₃. It is a white salt, which is soluble in water. It is deliquescent, often appearing as a damp or wet solid.

Synonyms: Carbonate of potash, Pearl ash, Salt of tartar

Potassium carbonate is mainly used in the production of soap, glass and porcelain. Other uses:

• As a mild drying agent. It is not suitable for acidic compounds, but can be useful for drying an organic phase. It may be used to dry some ketones, alcohols, and amines prior to distillation;
• In cuisine, where it has many traditional uses. It is an ingredient in the production of grass jelly, a food consumed in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. It is used to tenderize tripe. German gingerbread recipes often use potassium carbonate as a baking agent, although in combination with hartshorn;
• In the alkalization of cocoa powder to produce Dutch process chocolate by balancing the pH (i.e., reduce the acidity) of natural cocoa beans; it also enhances aroma;
• As a buffering agent in the production of mead or wine;
• In antique documents, it is reported to have been used to soften hard water;
• As a fire suppressant in extinguishing deep-fat fryers and various other B class-related fires;
• As an ingredient in welding fluxes, and in the flux coating on arc-welding rods;
• As an animal feed ingredient to satisfy the potassium requirements of farmed animals.