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Key Documents

P1472

Sigma-Aldrich

Potassium carbonate

meets USP testing specifications

Synonym(s):

Carbonic acid, Pearl ash, Salt of tartar, dipotassium salt, potash

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
K2CO3
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
138.21
Beilstein:
4267587
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12161700
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.25

Agency

USP/NF
meets USP testing specifications

Quality Level

Assay

99.5-100.5%

form

crystalline

mp

891 °C (lit.)

solubility

soluble 138 g/L at 20 °C (completely)

application(s)

pharmaceutical (small molecule)

SMILES string

[K+].[K+].[O-]C([O-])=O

InChI

1S/CH2O3.2K/c2-1(3)4;;/h(H2,2,3,4);;/q;2*+1/p-2

InChI key

BWHMMNNQKKPAPP-UHFFFAOYSA-L

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General description

Potassium carbonate(K2CO3), also known as potash or pearl ash, is a white potassium salt. It is soluble in water to form a strong alkaline solution.

Application


  • Improved 2-pyridyl reductive homocoupling reaction using biorenewable solvent Cyrene(dihydrolevoglucosenone).: This study highlights the use of potassium carbonate as a base in a green chemistry context, demonstrating improved reductive homocoupling reactions with the use of the biorenewable solvent Cyrene. The findings suggest significant applications in sustainable chemical processes (Webb et al., 2023).

  • Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Magnolol and Honokiol Derivatives with 1,3,5-Triazine of Metformin Cyclization.: This research discusses the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel derivatives using potassium carbonate, which plays a crucial role in the cyclization process. The study has implications for drug development and medicinal chemistry (Ren et al., 2020).

  • Synthesis of (18)F-radiolabeled organophosphine fluorides for thiol-chemoselective peptide conjugation.: The use of potassium carbonate in the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds is detailed in this paper, highlighting its application in biochemistry and molecular biology for the development of novel imaging agents (Zhuang et al., 2020).

  • Synthesis of well-defined phosphate-methylated DNA fragments: the application of potassium carbonate in methanol as deprotecting reagent.: This study focuses on the critical role of potassium carbonate in the deprotection step during the synthesis of methylated DNA fragments, with implications for genetic research and biotechnology (Kuijpers et al., 1990).

Biochem/physiol Actions

Potassium carbonate(K2CO3) is used as a drying agent for ketones, alcohols, amines, and non-acidic compounds before distillation. It serves as a buffering agent and controls pH during wine and mead production. Potassium carbonate is also used in the extraction of artemisinin, a potent antimalarial drug, from Artemisia annua plant extracts.

Legal Information

CYRENE is a trademark of Circa Group Pvt Ltd

Pictograms

Exclamation mark

Signal Word

Warning

Hazard Statements

Hazard Classifications

Eye Irrit. 2 - Skin Irrit. 2 - STOT SE 3

Target Organs

Respiratory system

Storage Class Code

13 - Non Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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A continuous-flow process for the synthesis of artemisinin
Kopetzki D, et al.
Chemistry?A European Journal , 19(17) , 5450-5456 (2013)
Effect of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) on the viscosity and related physico--chemical properties of genger (Bombax costatum) powder during storage
Gernah, DI and Gbakaan, P
Journal of Separation Science, 1(1) (2013)
Mead production: tradition versus modernity
Ramalhosa E, et al.
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 63 , 101-118 (2011)
S A Lewis et al.
Journal of forensic sciences, 44(5), 951-955 (1999-09-16)
Recently potassium nitrite has been used as an adulterant to interfere with the analysis of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in urine. A comprehensive study of the THC-COOH and nitrite reaction chemistry and stability under various conditions is presented. Reverse phase
K Y Foo et al.
Bioresource technology, 102(20), 9814-9817 (2011-08-30)
Rice husk (RH), an abundant by-product of rice milling, was used for the preparation of activated carbon (RHAC) via KOH and K(2)CO(3) chemical activation. The activation process was performed at the microwave input power of 600 W for 7 min.

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