Overview

Potassium carbonate (poe-TAS-ee-yum KAR-bun-ate) is also known as potash, pearl ash, salt of tartar, carbonate of potash, and salt of wormwood. It is a white, translucent, odorless, granular powder or crystalline material that tends to absorb water from the air. As it does, it is converted into the sesquihydrate ("sesqui" = one-and-a-half) with the formula K₂CO₃·1.5H₂O. That formula means that three molecules of potassium carbonate share two molecules of water among them.

Key Facts

Other Names:

See Overview.

Formula:

K₂CO₃

Elements:

Potassium, carbon, oxygen

Compound Type:

Salt (inorganic)

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

138.21 g/mol

Melting Point:

898°C (1650°F)

Boiling Point:

Not applicable; decomposes above melting point

Solubility:

Soluble in water; insoluble in ethyl alcohol

Potash is easily produced by pouring water over the ashes of burned plants and then evaporating the solution formed in large pots (hence the name: "pot" "ash"). The...