Potassium hydroxide

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Potassium hydroxide
Image:Potassium hydroxide.jpg
General
Other names	Potash lye
Molecular formula	KOH
Molar mass	56.10564 g/mol
Appearance	white solid, deliquescent
CAS number	[1310-58-3]
Properties
Density and phase	2.044 g/cm³, solid
Solubility in water	1100 g/L (25 °C)
Melting point	406 °C
Boiling point	1320 °C
Vapour Pressure	1.3hPa (719 ° C)
Basicity (pK_b)	pH: 13.5 (0.1 molar solution)
Structure
Coordination geometry	?
Crystal structure	?
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
EU classification	Corrosive (C)
NFPA 704	Image:NFPA 704.svg 0 3 1
R-phrases	R22, R35
S-phrases	S1/2, S26, S36/37/39, S45
Flash point	non flammable
RTECS number	TT2100000
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, ε_r, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour: Solid
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Other anions	Potassium oxide Potassium peroxide Potassium superoxide
Other cations	Lithium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide Rubidium hydroxide Caesium hydroxide
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

The chemical compound potassium hydroxide, (K OH) sometimes known as caustic potash, potassa, potash lye, and potassium hydrate, is a metallic base. It is very alkaline.

1 Uses
2 Food preparation
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Uses

In agriculture, potassium hydroxide is used to correct the pH of acidic soils. It can also be used as a fungicide or even a herbicide. MEMS.

[edit] Food preparation

Food uses of lye include washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel color production, poultry scalding, soft drink processing, and thickening ice cream. Olives are often soaked in lye to soften them, while pretzels and German lye rolls are glazed with a lye solution before baking to make them crisp.

Lye is used to make the Scandinavian delicacy known as lutefisk (from lutfisk, "lye fish"). Cod is soaked in lye to a jelly-like consistency, then served with bacon fat, potatoes, brunost sauce and mushy peas. Hominy is dried maize (corn) kernels reconstituted by soaking in lye.