Potassium acetate
Colourless soluble salt of acetic acid
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Through Potassium, Salt (chemistry) and Acetic acid
Preparation
It can be prepared by treating a potassium-containing base such as potassium hydroxide with acetic acid:
- CH3COOH + KOH → CH3COOK + H2O
This sort of reaction is known as an acid-alkali reaction.
At saturation, the sesquihydrate in water solution (2CH3COOK·3H2O) begins to form the semihydrate (2CH3COOK·H2O) at 41.3 °C (106.3 °F).
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Applications
Deicing
Potassium acetate (as a substitute for calcium chloride or magnesium chloride) can be used as a deicer to remove ice or prevent its formation. It offers the advantages over chlorides of being less aggressive on soils and much less corrosive: for this reason, it is one of the preferred substances for removal of ice from airplanes and airport runways.
Fire extinguishing
Potassium acetate is the extinguishing agent used as a component in some Class K fire extinguishers because of its ability to cool and form a crust over burning oils.
Food additive
Potassium acetate is used in processed foods as a preservative and acidity regulator. In the European Union, it is labeled by the E number E261; it is also approved for usage in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.
Medicine and biochemistry
In molecular biology, potassium acetate is used to precipitate Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and SDS-bound proteins to allow their removal from DNA.
Potassium acetate is used in mixtures applied for tissue preservation, fixation, and mummification. Most museums today use a formaldehyde-based method recommended by Kaiserling in 1897 which contains potassium acetate. This process was used to soak Lenin's corpse.
Industry
Potassium acetate is used as a catalyst in the production of polyurethanes.
Use in executions
Potassium acetate was incorrectly used in place of potassium chloride when putting a prisoner to death in Oklahoma in January 2015. Charles Frederick Warner was executed on January 15, 2015 with potassium acetate; this was not public knowledge until the scheduled execution of Richard Glossip was called off.
In August 2017, the U.S. state of Florida used potassium acetate (intentionally) in the execution of Mark James Asay.
Historical
Potassium acetate is used as a diuretic and urinary alkalizer. Before modern chemistry, it was variously called terra foliata tartari, sal Sennerti, tartarus regeneratus, arcanum tartari and sal diureticus. In 1760 it was used in the preparation of Cadet's fuming liquid ((CH3)2As)2 + ((CH3)2As)2O, the first organometallic compound ever produced.