Overview

Potassium chloride (poe-TAS-ee-yum KLOR-ide) occurs as a white or colorless crystalline solid or powder. It is odorless, but has a strong saline (salty) taste. It occurs naturally in the minerals sylvite, carnallite, kainite, and sylvinite. It also occurs in sea water at a concentration of about 0.076 percent (grams per milliliter of solution). Potassium chloride is the most abundant compound of the element potassium and has the greatest number of applications of any salt of potassium. By far the most important application of potassium chloride is in the manufacture of fertilizers.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Potassium muriate; muriate of potash

Formula:

KCl

Elements:

Potassium, chlorine

Compound Type:

Binary salt (inorganic)

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

74.55 g/mol

Melting Point:

771°C (1420°F)

Boiling Point:

Not applicable; sublimes at about 1500°C (2700°F)

Solubility:

Very soluble in water; slightly soluble in ethyl alcohol, and insoluble in ether, acetone, and other...