Potassium hydroxide

**Properties**
General
Name	Potassium hydroxide
Chemical formula	K OH
Appearance	White solid
Physical
Formula weight	56.1 amu
Melting point	679 K (406 °C)
Boiling point	1593 K (1320 °C)
Density	2.0 ×10³ kg/m³
Crystal structure	?
Solubility	119 g in 100g water
Thermochemistry
Δ_fH⁰_gas	-232 kJ/mol
Δ_fH⁰_liquid	-415.6 kJ/mol
Δ_fH⁰_solid	-425 kJ/mol
S⁰_solid	79 J/mol·K
Safety
Ingestion	Very dangerous, may cause permanent GI damage, even death.
Inhalation	Very dangerous, high doses may cause serious injury. Long-term hazards also known.
Skin	Causes burns, ranging from a rash up to deep ulcers.
Eyes	As for skin, may cause irreversible damage.
More info	Hazardous Chemical Database
SI units were used where possible. Unless otherwise stated, standard conditions were used. Disclaimer and references

The chemical compound potassium hydroxide, (K OH) sometimes known as caustic potash, potassa, potash lye and potassium hydrate, is a metallic base. It is a very alkaline compound used in agriculture to correct the pH of acidic soils. It can also be used as a fungicide or even an herbicide.

Uses

It is a major industrial chemical used as a base in a wide variety of chemical processes.

It is used as a catalyst in reactions like the production of biodiesel, because it dissolves in methanol much more easily than NaOH, and it doesn't "clump".

Some uses of KOH include acrylate ester copolymer coating, defoaming agents used in the manufacture of paper, formulation aid for food, pH control agent, polyethylene resins, textile processing.

Food uses include washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel color production, poultry scalding, and forming a skin on pretzels before baking, olive ageing, soft drink processing, ice cream thickener.

Other uses include in veterinary medicine in disbudding calves horns and to dissolve scales and hair; manufacture of cleansers; in wart removal and as a cuticle solvent. This type of compound is also used in washing powders, some denture cleaners, non-phosphate detergents, and drain or pipe cleaners.