All Topics  
Potassium oxide

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Potassium oxide
 
 
  Topics Potassium oxide Topic Home

Potassium oxide is a compound
Chemical compound

A chemical compound is a Chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical element Chemical bond together in a fixed mass ratio that can be split into simpler substances....
 of potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 and oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
. This pale yellow solid, the simplest oxide of potassium, is a rarely encountered, highly reactive species. Some materials of commerce, such as fertilizers and cements, are assayed assuming the percent composition that would be equivalent to K2O.

ssium oxide is produced from the reaction of oxygen and potassium; this reaction affords potassium peroxide
Potassium peroxide

Potassium peroxide is an inorganic compound with the molecular formula K2O2. It is formed as potassium reacts with oxygen in the air, along with potassium oxide and potassium superoxide ....
, K2O2.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Potassium oxide'
Start a new discussion about 'Potassium oxide'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Potassium oxide is a compound
Chemical compound

A chemical compound is a Chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical element Chemical bond together in a fixed mass ratio that can be split into simpler substances....
 of potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 and oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
. This pale yellow solid, the simplest oxide of potassium, is a rarely encountered, highly reactive species. Some materials of commerce, such as fertilizers and cements, are assayed assuming the percent composition that would be equivalent to K2O.

Production

Potassium oxide is produced from the reaction of oxygen and potassium; this reaction affords potassium peroxide
Potassium peroxide

Potassium peroxide is an inorganic compound with the molecular formula K2O2. It is formed as potassium reacts with oxygen in the air, along with potassium oxide and potassium superoxide ....
, K2O2. Treatment of the peroxide with potassium produces the oxide:
K2O2 + 2 K ? 2 K2O
Alternatively and more conveniently, K2O is synthesized by heating potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula PotassiumNitrogenOxygen3. A naturally occurring mineral source of nitrogen, KNO3 constitutes a critical oxidation component of black powder/gunpowder....
 with metallic potassium:
2 KNO3 + 10 K ? 6 K2O + N2
Potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide is the inorganic compound with the formula potassiumhydroxide. Along with sodium hydroxide, this colourless solid is a prototypical "strong base"....
 cannot be further dehydrated to the oxide.

Properties and reactions

K2O crystallises in the antifluorite structure. In this motif the positions of the anions and cations are reversed relative to their positions in CaF2
Calcium fluoride

Calcium fluoride is an insoluble ionic chemical compound of calcium and fluorine. It occurs naturally as the mineral fluorite , and it is the source of most of the world's fluorine....
, with potassium ions coordinated to 4 oxide ions and oxide ions coordinated to 8 potassium. K2O is a basic oxide and reacts with water violently to produce the caustic potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide

Potassium hydroxide is the inorganic compound with the formula potassiumhydroxide. Along with sodium hydroxide, this colourless solid is a prototypical "strong base"....
. It is deliquescent and will absorb water from the atmosphere, initiating this vigorous reaction.

Potassium oxide in fertilizers

The chemical formula K2O is used in the N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) numbers on the labels of fertilizer
Fertilizer

Fertilizers are chemical compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either through the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves....
s. Although K2O is the correct formula for potassium oxide, potassium oxide is not used as a fertilizer in these products. Normally, potassium chloride
Potassium chloride

The chemical compound potassium chloride is a metal halide Salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state it is odorless. It has a white or colorless vitreous crystal, with a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions....
, potassium sulfate
Potassium sulfate

Potassium sulfate is a flammable white crystalline salt which is Solubility in water.The chemical is commonly used in fertilizers, providing both potassium and sulfur....
, or potassium carbonate
Potassium carbonate

Potassium carbonate is a white salt, soluble in water , which forms a strongly alkaline solution. It can be made as the product of potassium hydroxide's absorbent reaction with carbon dioxide....
 is used as a fertilizer source for potassium. The percentage of K2O given on the label only represents the amount of potassium in the fertilizer if it was in the form of potassium oxide. Potassium oxide is about 83% potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 by weight, but potassium chloride
Potassium chloride

The chemical compound potassium chloride is a metal halide Salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state it is odorless. It has a white or colorless vitreous crystal, with a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions....
, for instance, is only 52% potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 by weight. Potassium chloride
Potassium chloride

The chemical compound potassium chloride is a metal halide Salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state it is odorless. It has a white or colorless vitreous crystal, with a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions....
 provides less potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 than an equal amount of potassium oxide. Thus, if a fertilizer is 30% potassium chloride
Potassium chloride

The chemical compound potassium chloride is a metal halide Salt composed of potassium and chlorine. In its pure state it is odorless. It has a white or colorless vitreous crystal, with a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions....
 by weight, its standard potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 rating, based on potassium oxide, would be only 19%.