Potassium acetate

Salts and esters of acetic acid are called acetates. They are used mainly as a mordant, with which the dyes on the fiber are fixed. In particular, potassium acetate (the systematic name in English - Potassium acetate, a synonym - potassium salt) is the potassium salt of acetic acid, has the chemical formula CH3COOK. The molar mass is 98.15 g / mol.

Under normal conditions, potassium acetate is a white crystalline powder that is hygroscopic, which is why it spreads in the air. The density is 1.57 g / cm³. The salt is highly soluble in water: in 100 ml a little more than 200 g of salt dissolves at 20 ° C and 492 g at 62 ° C. Acetic acid potassium is readily soluble in alcohol (methanol and ethanol) and in ammonia, insoluble in ether and acetone. The decomposition temperature of potassium acetate is plus 292 ° C.

Potassium acetate is prepared by reacting basic compounds such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) or potassium carbonate (K2CO3) with an acetic acid as a result of the neutralization reaction: KOH + CH3COOH → CO2 + CH3COOK + H2O or double exchange: K2CO3 + CH3COOH → CO2 + CH3COOK + H2O . For metals standing in the series of stresses to the left of hydrogen, for example, potassium or magnesium, reaction reactions with acids that are not oxidants are characteristic. Such acids include acetic acid. When it interacts, for example, with magnesium, magnesium acetate is obtained: Mg + 2CH3COOH → Mg (CH3COO) 2 + H2. But this method has no practical application for the production of magnesium or potassium salt of acetic acid. In the free state, these metals do not exist in nature, and potassium, because of its chemical activity, reacts easily with water and is oxidized by air oxygen. It is also very expensive metal and is used even less often than sodium.

Potassium acetate in accordance with GOST 5820-78 is used in the production of silicon organic polymers (silicones - an important and promising direction in the production of polymer products). Also, potassium acetate is used as a catalyst in the production of polyurethanes. Another important area of application of potassium acetate is its use as an anti-icing agent. This reagent has a number of advantages (it is less aggressive towards the soil) and therefore replaces magnesium or calcium chloride when processing runways at airports, and its corrosive effect on metals is less than that of chlorides. Potassium acetate is harmless for most surfaces, including concrete, metal, wood, gutters, lawns and vegetation. But since its price is higher than that of chlorides, the latter is often preferred, despite environmental violations and greater equipment wear. In addition, potassium acetate is an effective fire extinguisher and is used to extinguish fires. It is used to extinguish fires of oils.

Acetic acid potassium is used not only in industrial facilities, but also in medicine and the food industry (an effective preservative E261, manufactured in accordance with GOST 5820-78). For comparison: another salt of this carboxylic acid - calcium acetate - has no industrial application. It is obtained only in laboratory conditions by the action of acetic acid on calcium carbonate. The reaction is carried out until the carbon dioxide is completely released: CaCO3 + 2CH3COOH → CO2 ↑ + (CH3COO) 2Ca + H2O. Used (CH3COO) 2Ca only as a food additive E263, because (like CH3COOK) is an effective preservative.

With substitution therapy, potassium acetate is used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. As a result, it is possible to prevent diabetic ketoacidotic coma, which can occur as a result of metabolic acidosis (a decrease in pH) caused by impaired metabolism due to deficiency of the hormone of the pancreas (insulin). A high concentration of glucose and ketone bodies in the blood, which significantly exceed physiological values, leads to a diabetic ketoacidotic coma. Potassium acetate, used as a food additive, because it is able to reduce the level of acidity, decomposing to bicarbonate. For this reason, it is used to treat patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.