What Is Potassium Oxide?
Potassium oxide is a compound obtained by heating potassium nitrate and potassium.
Potassium oxide exists at room temperature in the form of colorless crystals or a gray solid. It is generally used in the state of potassium hydroxide.
Related substances to potassium oxide include potassium, potassium hydroxide, and potassium peroxide.
Uses of Potassium Oxide
Potassium oxide is often used in the form of potassium hydroxide reacted with water. Specifically, potassium hydroxide is used in a wide range of applications, including as a raw material for liquid soap, detergents, and chemical fertilizers, and as an electrolyte in alkaline batteries.
Potassium hydroxide is considered to be a basic compound with strong cleaning properties among raw materials for detergents. It is often used in detergents for professional use because of its particularly strong ability to decompose and dissolve oil stains.
Properties of Potassium Oxide
Potassium oxide decomposes into potassium and potassium peroxide at 350°C. Its density is 2.35 g/cm3. It dissolves well in water, and after dissolution, it changes to potassium hydroxide. Potassium oxide is dangerous because it reacts with water in the air. It is also corrosive.
Potassium Oxide is an oxide of potassium and has the chemical formula K2O. The crystal solid of Potassium Oxide belongs to the cubic crystal system. It has an antifluorite structure, with the potassium oxide ion in the position of the fluoride ion of calcium fluoride and the oxide ion in the position of the calcium ion. The lattice constant of potassium oxide is a = 6.436 Å.
Other Information About Potassium Oxide
1. Formation of Potassium Oxide
Potassium oxide can be synthesized by reacting a small amount of air with potassium metal. Excess unreacted potassium metal can be removed by distillation.
Potassium Oxide can also be obtained by heating potassium metal and potassium nitrate.
2. Potassium Oxide in Rocks
The composition of a rock is generally indicated in the form of an oxide. It is contained as silicate, such as orthoclase (KAlSi3O8), which has the structure KAlSi3O8. For example, if granite is listed as having a composition of 4.5% K2O, it contains approximately 26.6% orthoclase.
The same is true for potash fertilizers. In other words, the potassium content is converted to K2O even if the ingredient is potassium carbonate or potassium sulfate.
3. Potassium Characteristics
At 350°C, potassium oxide decomposes into potassium, along with potassium peroxide. Potassium is an element with atomic number 19. It is an alkali metal with the element symbol K. It is one of the typical elements and an essential element for living organisms. Potassium oxide is quickly oxidized by air.
4. Characteristics of Potassium Hydroxide
When potassium oxide is placed in water, it generates high heat and potassium hydroxide is formed. Potassium hydroxide is the hydroxide of potassium, and its chemical formula is KOH. It is an ionic crystal composed of hydroxide and potassium ions and is a hard, brittle white solid. Potassium hydroxide is also called caustic potash.
5. Characteristics of Potassium Oxide
At 350°C, potassium oxide decomposes, along with potassium, into potassium peroxide. Potassium oxide is a peroxide of potassium, also known as potassium peroxide. Its chemical formula is K2O2.
When potassium metal is dissolved in liquid ammonia and oxygen is blown into the dark blue solution at -50°C, the reaction causes the solution to turn colorless and potassium peroxide to form as an orange precipitate.