Potassium bicarbonate is a white crystalline acid-base compound that is often used as a food additive or leavening agent. It occurs naturally in plants and animals and is made synthetically for commercial purposes. This white substance is sometimes confused with baking soda and as such, some uses of this food additive are also typically attributed to the flavor enhancer, sodium bicarbonate, which causes confusion to those who want to purchase it and what it can be used for. This article aims to explain what potassium bicarbonate is, why it’s so useful, and how you might be able to use it in your products or process. You’ll also see how sodium bicarbonate compares in this article.
What is Potassium Bicarbonate?
Potassium bicarbonate is a compound with the chemical formula KHCO3. It most commonly occurs as a white, odorless powder. Potassium bicarbonate is used to regulate acidity levels in food and beverages, and it can be found in some toothpastes, mouthwashes and throat lozenges. It’s also used in fire extinguishers and oil drilling muds.
Potassium bicarbonate is a salt of potassium, which is an electrolyte. Electrolytes help maintain the balance of fluids in your body and are essential for maintaining a healthy blood flow throughout your body.
The structure of potassium bicarbonate consists of three atoms: one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom has two negatively charged electrons (electrons are subatomic particles). These electrons are what give it its negative charge.
How is Potassium Bicarbonate Made?
Potassium bicarbonate is a white, odorless powder that is used in cooking and baking. It is produced by the reaction of potassium carbonate with water. The reaction occurs at high temperatures and results in the formation of potassium carbonate and water vapor.
Potassium bicarbonate can be manufactured through two methods:
1) The direct conversion of sodium bicarbonate: 2 NaHCO3 + K2CO3 = 2 Na2CO3 + KOH + CO2
2) The indirect conversion of potassium carbonate: K2CO3 + H20 = 2KOH + CO2
Properties
| Other names | Potassium hydrogen carbonate; Acid potassium carbonate; Carbonic acid, monopotassium salt |
| CAS number | 298-14-6 |
| Chemical formula | KHCO3 |
| Molecular weight | 100.12 |
| PH | Approximately 8.2 (1% solution at 25°C) |
Solubility
Freely soluble in water with a solubility of 332 g/L at 20oC. Not soluble in ethanol. When dissolved in water, KHCO3 dissociates potassium cation (K+) and bicarbonate anion (HCO3-). KHCO3 ===> K+ + HCO3–
CO3- is amphoteric and has the following carbonic acid equilibrium states:
- HCO3- + H2O H2CO3 + OH-
- HCO3- H+ + CO32-
Decomposes into K2CO3, H2O, and CO2 at 156°C. This property allows potassium carbonate to be produced.
Alkalinity
A buffer with mild alkalinity, less caustic than hydroxides and carbonates, more gentle than potassium carbonate for neutralizing acids.
What is the application of Potassium Bicarbonate?
Potassium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that is used in many different industries. It is a salt of potassium and bicarbonate, and it is often used as a food additive. The compound can be produced naturally, but it is also made in factories and sold in stores, especially as baking powder.
The uses of potassium bicarbonate include:
Food additive—Potassium bicarbonate is commonly added to baked goods, such as breads, cakes and cookies. It helps improve the texture of the baked good by helping the dough rise more evenly while giving it a softer texture after baking. Potassium bicarbonate can also be used to help preserve some types of cheese and other dairy products by making them last longer before spoiling.
Medicine—Potassium bicarbonate has been used for centuries as an antacid for heartburn and indigestion problems. It’s also been used to treat hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood), although this use isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Other uses—Potassium bicarbonate may also be found in toothpaste, deodorants, mouthwashes and even shampoo.
Supplement
- Blood pressure regulation
- Maintaining bone strength and muscle function
- Cardiovascular health support
- Taking part in certain neurological mechanisms and other activities
Baking
- KHCO3 + H+ = K+ + CO2 + H2O
- 2KHCO3 = K2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
Potassium bicarbonate Vs sodium bicarbonate?
Potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate are both safe and effective antacids. They work by neutralizing stomach acid to relieve heartburn and other symptoms caused by the digestive system.
Both medications are available over-the-counter (OTC) at drug stores and pharmacies, but they’re different in terms of their chemical makeup, their purpose, and how they work.
Here’s a look at the differences between these two common antacid medications:
Chemical makeup
Potassium bicarbonate is made up of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and bicarbonate (HCO3). Sodium bicarbonate is made up of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and bicarbonate (HCO3). Both compounds use carbon dioxide as their main ingredient. Carbon dioxide is the gas that gives soda its fizziness when you open it from a can or bottle.
Purpose
Sodium bicarbonate is used for treating indigestion or heartburn caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus, while potassium bicarbonate treats hyperacidity in people who have trouble absorbing nutrients due to low stomach acid production.
Soda water
Winemaking
Potassium bicarbonate is an alkaline that can be used as a pH regulator to reduce the acidic taste (tartaric acid) in wine and therefore improve its flavor. You can also use it to make your coffee less acidic with the same effect.
Pharmaceuticals
Fungicides
Fertilizer
In agricultural applications, potassium hydrogen carbonate can be used to reduce soil acidity and increase crop growth. Improve soil absorption of potassium, as well as synergy with phosphate fertilizers.
Feed
In animal feed, it is added as a nutritional supplement to prevent potassium deficiency and to increase dietary intake and, therefore, enhance weight gain. In the form of bicarbonate, it also functions as a rumen buffer.
Fire extinguisher
Is potassium bicarbonate safe to consume?
Potassium Bicarbonate is a chemical compound that has many uses in the food industry. It is also a common ingredient in household cleaning products, but it is not safe to eat.
Potassium bicarbonate, or potassium hydrogen carbonate, is an inorganic compound with formula KHC2O3. Potassium bicarbonate is a white solid that is soluble in water and has many industrial uses. It can be prepared by reacting carbon dioxide with a solution of potassium hydroxide and potassium chloride.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified potassium bicarbonate as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). This means that it can be used as an additive in foods without any restrictions or safety concerns by the FDA. Potassium bicarbonate can be found in baked goods, such as cookies and cakes, or it can be used as a leavening agent for yeast breads and rolls. It can also be added to meat products to improve tenderness by increasing the pH of the meat during cooking, which makes the myofibrils more flexible.
FDA
As a direct human food ingredient, potassium bicarbonate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Providing current acceptable manufacturing practices are followed, it can be used as a formulation aid, nutrient supplement, pH control agent, or processing aid in food.
EFSA
Potassium bicarbonate E501(ii) is listed as an authorised food additive in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and classified as “Additives other than colours and sweeteners”.
JECFA
Functional Class: food additives, acidity regulator, leavening agent, raising agent.
Admissible daily intake: ADI “not limited” was set in 1965.
What are the possible Side Effects of Potassium Bicarbonate?
Potassium bicarbonate is a salt that has many applications in the medical field. It is used as an antacid to treat stomach acidity and heartburn, as well as a source of potassium for patients with kidney problems. The drug can also be used to make a buffer solution for blood samples or intravenous medications.
Potassium bicarbonate side effects are generally mild, but can include nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. More serious side effects include gastrointestinal bleeding, swelling of the hands or legs and breathing difficulties due to excess potassium levels.
Potassium Bicarbonate Side Effects
Potassium bicarbonate is generally safe when taken at recommended doses by mouth or injection into a vein. However, it can cause potentially dangerous side effects if you take too much of the drug or if you are taking other medications that interact with it.
Common Potassium Bicarbonate Side Effects
The most common side effects of potassium bicarbonate include:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Stomach pain.
How much potassium bicarbonate should i take?
The recommended dietary allowance for potassium is about 4,700 milligrams a day for adults. The upper limit is not set but would be about 5,100 milligrams a day.
Potassium bicarbonate is used as an antacid, to treat acid reflux and ulcers, and to reduce stomach acid. It can also be used to treat high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes.
The amount of potassium bicarbonate that a person should take depends on their age and medical condition. Some people may need more than the recommended amount while others may need less than the recommended amount. A doctor will determine what dosage of potassium bicarbonate is right for each person based on their needs.
Is potassium bicarbonate acidic or basic?
Potassium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that has the chemical formula KHCO3. It is a white crystalline salt that dissolves in water to produce carbon dioxide gas, which is released as bubbles. The reaction produces a basic solution, which means that it contains hydroxide ions (OH-) as one of its components.
The acidity of any compound can be determined by measuring its pH level. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is by comparing it to water, which has a neutral pH value of 7.0. Anything with a lower value is considered more acidic than the reference substance, while anything with a higher value is basic compared to the reference substance.
Potassium bicarbonate has a pH value of 8.1, which means that it is slightly basic in nature compared to pure water and other substances with neutral pH values such as sodium chloride (common table salt).
Is potassium bicarbonate ionic or covalent?
The answer to this question depends on the state of your potassium bicarbonate. The ionic state of a compound is the form in which it exists at room temperature, while the covalent state refers to another form that it can take at high temperatures.
In its ionic state, potassium bicarbonate consists of positively charged potassium ions (K+) and negatively charged carbonate ions (CO32-). This ionic compound forms when potassium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide in water. In other words, when you add an alkali to an acidic solution or two different types of acid react together.
In its covalent state, potassium bicarbonate takes the form of a dimer (or dihydrate) — a chemical compound made up of two identical molecules joined by bonds between their constituent atoms or groups.
Does potassium bicarbonate dissolve in water?
The answer is yes!
Potassium bicarbonate is soluble in water. It has a solubility of 11.2 g/100 mL at 20 °C (68 °F) and 7.8 g/100 mL at boiling point. The solubility increases with higher temperatures, but decreases as the concentration of potassium bicarbonate increases.
The solubility of potassium bicarbonate in water can be explained by its chemical structure, which has two carbonate groups bonded to each other. This means that there are two negatively charged oxygen atoms and two positively charged hydrogen atoms per molecule of potassium bicarbonate. These negative and positive ions can form ionic bonds with each other, which leads to increased solubility of potassium bicarbonate in water.
Where to buy potassium bicarbonate?
There are many places where you can buy potassium bicarbonate. You can find it at Walmart, Target, or the grocery store. It is also available online at Amazon or other websites that sell it. It may be more expensive online than in stores, but if you have a Prime membership with Amazon, then shipping is free and you can get it quickly.
Conclusion
Potassium bicarbonate is produced by the reaction of baking soda made from sodium bicarbonate with carbon dioxide. It is white in color and has an odorless taste. The main advantage of potassium bicarbonate is that it provides a greater volume to the dough as well as increased gas retention during proofing, resulting in softer and easily digestible bread. Therefore, consumers can expect high quality breads and baked goods when using potassium bicarbonate.
