Potassium chloride

 

Potassium chloride
aka Sylvite

Chemical formula	KCl
OTP appearance	white crystal
Molar Mass(g/mol)	74.5513
Melting Point(°C)	770
Boiling Point(°C)	1420
Solubility in water(g/L)	344
NFPA 704	0 1 0

Uses

Primary

• Pharm: essential electrolyte on WHO LEM
• Production of potassium compounds from sodium analogues.

Natural occurrence

• Potassium chloride is present in small amounts in salt water
• Potassium chloride occurs naturally as the mineral sylvite.

Hazards

• Overconsumption can be fatal LD₅₀(rat,oral) 2.6g/kg

Production

Synthesis

• Combine potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid

  KOH + HCl → KCl + H₂O