What is Potassium Chloride?

This is an important metal and an essential electrolyte too. The chemical formula for the compound is KCl and the it behaves very much similar to the sodium chloride. The chemical structure of the compound is given as below where one potassium cation is connected with one chloride anion.

Potassium Chloride Chemical Formula

The natural occurrence of the compound can be felt in mineral sylvite or the sea water. This is majorly obtained by the mining process and further followed by the extraction process. It could also be extracted from brine in sea water. It is generally prepared in laboratories in small scale only by combing KOH and HCL together.

KOH + HCl → KCl + H2O

Potassium Chloride Molecular

This is a crystalline while solid and odorless compound with a density of 1.98 g/mL, a melting point of 770 °C, and a boiling point of 1420 °C.it can be dissolved in water quickly and it is soluble with a variety of polar solvents too. It can be fully solvated to potassium and cyanide ions on constant heating.

About Potassium Chloride

The product shows excellent electrolyte conductivity and used as metallic potassium in plenty of chemical reactions. The practical uses of the compound are Ph buffers, electrolytes, fertilizers, metallic potassium and more. Also, it is essential to maintain the functioning of various body parts and taken as the major source of nutrients. It is used by petroleum or gas agencies too for water softening. At low concentration, it is non-toxic and non-hazardous to health. At high concentrations, it can cause heart attacks and even death too in extreme conditions.