What is the Potassium Oxide Formula: Let’s know about Potassium Oxide Formula. Potassium oxide , also known as dipotassium oxide, is an ionic oxygen and potassium salt with the formula K2O . Its structure is presented.
K2 or it is the simplest potassium oxide, it is a highly reactive and rarely found compound . Some commercial materials, such as fertilizers and cement, are tested by assuming a percentage of the composition to be equal to a mixture of chemical compounds. 2 ha.
Potassium oxide potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) and the metal potassium produce molecular hydrogen (potassium oxide K2O, SF) at 450 °C according to the equation:
2K + 2KOH 2 2K 2 O + H 2 (450 °C).
It is also obtained by reducing potassium peroxide according to the reaction:
2K 2 O 2 → K 2 O + O 2 (530 ° C).
Another way to obtain potassium oxide is by heating potassium carbonate to a high temperature indicated by the following reaction:
K 2 CO 3 K 2 O + CO 2 (T> 1200 ° C).
However, the main way to obtain potassium oxide is by heating potassium nitrate to obtain molecular nitrogen as indicated by the following reaction:
2KNO 3 + 10K → 6K 2 O + N 2

physical and chemical properties
Potassium oxide are yellowish tetrahedral crystals without a characteristic aroma (National Center for Biotechnology Info., 2017). Its appearance is shown in Figure 2 (American Elements, sf.).
The compound has a molecular weight of 94.2 g/mol and a density of 2.13 g/ml at 24 °C. It has a melting point of 740 ° C, although it begins to decompose at 300 ° C (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015).
The compound is resistant to heat and is soluble in ethanol and ether. K 2 or it crystallizes in the antifluorite structure. For this reason, the positions of the anions and cations are reversed with respect to their positions in CaF 2 , 4 oxide anions with potassium ions and 8 oxides coordinated to potassium.
K 2 or it is a basic oxide and reacts violently with water to produce caustic potassium hydroxide. It is volatile and absorbs water from the atmosphere, starting this vigorous reaction.
Potassium oxide is oxidized reversible to potassium peroxide at 350 °C, reacting violently with acids such as hydrochloric acid, to form potassium salts according to the reaction:
K 2 O + 2HCl → 2KCl + H 2 O.
The compound reacts with nitrogen dioxide to form nitrate and potassium nitrite at temperatures between 150 and 200 °C:
K 2 O + 2NO 2 = KNO 2 + KNO 3
Potassium oxide reacts with ammonia at low temperatures and forms potassium hydroxide according to the reaction:
K 2 O + NH 3 (l) → KNH 2 + KOH (-50 ° C).
response and threats
Potassium oxide is a volatile substance. It is readily oxidized to other potassium oxides, peroxides or potassium oxide acids (KHO). The compound is not combustible, but reacts vigorously and exogenously with water to form potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Solution of potassium oxide in water is a strong base, reacts violently with acids and is corrosive. Reacts violently with water producing potassium hydroxide. Attracts many metals in the presence of water (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2014).
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, as well as to ingestion. Inhalation of aerosols can cause pulmonary edema. Symptoms of pulmonary edema often do not appear after a few hours and are aggravated by physical exertion.
In case of contact with eyes you should check if you are wearing contact lenses and remove them immediately. The eyes should be washed with running water for at least 15 minutes, this keeps the eyelids open. You can use cold water. Ointment should not be used for the eyes.
If the chemical comes into contact with clothing, remove it as soon as possible, protecting your hands and body. Place the victim under a safety shower.
If the chemical gets on the victim’s exposed skin, such as hands, gently and carefully wash the skin with contaminated water and non-abrasive soap. You can use cold water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
If the contact with the skin is severe, it should be washed with a disinfecting soap and the contaminated skin should be covered with an anti-bacterial cream.
In case of inhalation, the victim should be allowed to rest in a well-ventilated area. If the inhalation is severe, the victim should be evacuated to a safe area as soon as possible.
Loose clothing such as shirt collars, belts or ties. If the victim finds it difficult to breathe, oxygen should be administered. If the victim is not breathing, mouth-to-mouth is resumed.
Always bear in mind that it can be dangerous to the person who provides mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious or corrosive.
In case of ingestion, do not induce vomiting. Loose clothing such as shirt collars, belts or ties. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In all cases, immediate medical attention should be sought (IPCS, SF).
Applications
The chemical formula K 2 O (or simply “K”) is used in many industrial contexts: NPK numbers for fertilizers, in cement formulas, and in glass formulas.
Potassium oxide is not often used directly in these products, but potassium content is reported in terms of K equivalents. Used for 2 or any type of potassium compounds, such as potassium carbonate.
Potassium oxide is about 83% potassium by weight, while potassium chloride is only 52%. Potassium chloride provides less potassium than the same amount of potassium oxide.
Therefore, if a fertilizer has potassium chloride at 30% by weight, its standard potassium index would be only 18.8%, based on potassium oxide. It is manufactured and / or imported into the European Economic Area between 10 and 100 tons per year of this substance.
This substance is used in laboratory chemicals, fertilizers, polymers and phytosanitary products. K2 or it has an industrial use that results in the manufacture of another substance (use of intermediate products) .
Potassium oxide is used for manufacturing mixing and/or re-packaging and in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishing. This substance is used to manufacture chemical products, plastic products and mineral products (such as plaster, cement).
The release of potassium oxide to the environment is likely for industrial use: as an intermediate step in the manufacture of another substance (use of intermediate products), the manufacture of mixtures, processing aids and industrial processing of abrasives with low speed In form of. Textile release, cutting, machining or polishing of metal).
It is possible that for example a further release of this substance to the environment from its use in interiors, liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coatings or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners.
Also for its use in closed systems with minimal release, such as cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil based electric heaters.
Potassium oxide is used in long-term materials with low release rates, for example, building materials and the manufacture of metals, wood and plastics.
Indoors, it is used in long-lasting materials with low release velocities such as furniture, toys, building materials, curtains, shoes, leather products, paper and cardboard products, electronic equipment.
This substance can be found in products made of stone, plaster, cement, glass or ceramic materials (eg, dishes, pots/pans, food storage containers, construction and insulation materials) (European Chemical Agency, 2017).
Potassium oxide is a thermally stable, highly insoluble potassium source suitable for glass, optics and ceramic applications. Oxide compounds do not produce electricity.
However, some structured oxides of perovskite are electronically conductive which find applications in the cathodes of solid oxide fuel cells and oxygen systems.
They are compounds that contain at least one oxygen ion and one metal cation. They are making them very useful in manufacturing clay bowls or ceramic structures for advanced electronics.
It is also used in aerospace and electrochemical applications in lightweight structural components such as fuel cells in that they exhibit ionic conductivity.
Metal oxide compounds are basic anhydrides and therefore can react with acids and strong reducing agents in redox reactions.