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Potassium: Potassium Chloride
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Potassium supplementation may be especially useful in the treatment of high blood pressure in persons over the age of 65. The elderly often do not fully respond to blood pressure-lowering drugs making the use of potassium supplement an exciting possibility. In one double-blind study, 18 untreated elderly patients (average age 75 years) with systolic blood pressure of greater than 160 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure of greater than 95 mm Hg were given either potassium chloride (supplying 2.5 g of potassium) or a placebo each day for four weeks. After this relatively short treatment period the group getting the potassium experienced a drop of 12 mm Hg in systolic and 7 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure. These results compare quite favorably to the reduction of blood pressure produced by drug therapy in the European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in Elderly Study.
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Potassium forms many important compounds. Potassium chloride (KCl) is the most common potassium compound. It is used in fertilizers, as a salt substitute and to produce other chemicals. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used to make soaps, detergents and drain cleaners. Potassium carbonate (KHCO3)... known as pearl ash, is used to make some types of glass and soaps and is obtained commercially as a byproduct of the production of ammonia. Potassium superoxide (KO2) can create oxygen from water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through the following reaction: 2KO2+H2O+2CO2=>2KHCO3+O2.
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Potassium carbonate is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in alcohol), which forms a strongly alkaline solution. It can be made as the product of potassium hydroxide's absorbant reaction with carbon dioxide. It is a deliquescent (usually damp or wet) solid, used in the production of soap and glass. Potassium carbonate is the primary component of potash and the more refined pearlash or salts of tartar. Potassium carbonate is prepared commercially by the electrolysis of potassium chloride. The resulting potassium hydroxide is then carbonated using carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate, which is often used to produce other potassium compounds.
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Potassium carbonate is one of the most important inorganic compounds used in industry. It is as old as recorded history. Potassium carbonate was leached from ashes in Pompeii and mixed with slaked lime for soapmaking. The increase in the use of this alkali paralleled the growth of western civilization. Today potassium hydroxide (caustic potash or KOH) is produced through the electrolysis of potassium chloride brine. The KOH is carbonated with carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate.
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Potassium chloride, KCl, finds its main use in fertilizer mixtures. It ... serves as the raw material for the manufacture of other potassium compounds. Potassium hydroxide, KOH, is used in the manufacture of liquid soaps, and potassium carbonate in making soft soaps. Potassium carbonate, K2CO3, is also an important raw material for the glass industry. Potassium nitrate, KNO3, is used in matches, in pyrotechnics, and in similar items which require an oxidizing agent.
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Potassium chloride, KC1... known as muriate of potash, closely resembles ordinary salt. It is produced in immense quantities at Stassfurt from the so-called "Abraumsalze." For the purpose of the manufacturer of this salt these are assorted into a raw material containing approximately, in Ioo parts, 55-65 of carnallite (representing 16 parts of potassium chloride), 20-25 of common salt, 15-20 of kieserite; 2-4 of tachhydrite (CaC12 2MgC12 12H20), and minor components. This mixture is now wrought mainly in two ways. (1) The salt is dissolved in water with the help of steam, and the solution is cooled down to from 60° to 70°, when a quantity of impure common salt crystallizes out, which is removed. The decanted ley deposits on standing a 70% potassium chloride, which is purified by washing with cold water.
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Potassium Chloride