Potassium carbonate

Potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in ethanol) which forms a strongly alkaline solution.

Contents

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other names
• References

Uses

Potassium carbonate is used in the production of soap and glass.

Used in the production of cocoa powder to balance the pH (i.e. reduce the amount of acidity) of natural cocoa beans (it also helps enhance the aroma). The process of adding potassium carbonate to cocoa powder is usually called “Dutching”, or Dutch-processed cocoa powder, as the process was first developed in 1828 by Coenrad Johannes van Houten, a Dutchman.

Used as a buffering agent in the production of mead or wine.

Caution

No side effects are known.

Interactions

None are recorded. Please consult your pharmacist.

Other names

n/a

Reference

Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_carbonate