Potassium oxide is a compound of potassium and oxygen used mainly as a intermediate in inorganic synthesis. It is formed by reacting metallic potassium with a limited supply of oxygen. This is done by only oxidizing a small portion of the metal with dry air at a time to prevent peroxide formation. Potassium oxide can also be synthesized by heating appropriate quantities of potassium nitrate with metallic potassium in a vacuum. As the potassium nitrate is heated, it decomposes into potassium nitrite and oxygen. In this manner, the amount of oxygen produced can be carefully controlled and an intimate mixture of the two reagents ensures that the oxygen will react evenly with the potassium. In both cases, an excess of potassium is used and is subsequently vacuum distilled at high temperatures to separate it from the potassium oxide. The two most common synthesis methods are outlined below. IUPAC nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. ... A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a chemical element or chemical compound. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties (i. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solution. ... Water has the chemical formula H2O, meaning that one molecule of water is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. ... R-phrases , S-phrases , , , Flash point non flammable RTECS number TT2100000 Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solution. ... Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound, one of the alcohols that is most often found in alcoholic beverages. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solution. ... Flash point -45 °C Autoignition temperature 170 °C R/S statement RTECS number KI5775000 Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... Potassium peroxide has formula K2O2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid. ... // An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a net electric charge. ... Potassium peroxide has formula K2O2. ... // An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a net electric charge. ... Basic Information Flash point Non flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... In chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 kilopascals) and 25 degrees Celsius (298. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Potassium peroxide has formula K2O2. ... R-phrases   S-phrases   Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... R-phrases   S-phrases   Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Potassium nitrite is a mineral which contains potassium and nitrogen. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... Vacuum distillation is a method of distillation whereby the pressure above the solution to be distilled is reduced to less than one Atmosphere (unit) causing evaporation of the most volatile liquid(s) (those with the lowest boiling points. ...

1) 4K + O₂ (dry air) → 2K₂O General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ...

2) KNO₃ → KNO₂ + O₂ R-phrases   S-phrases   Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Potassium nitrite is a mineral which contains potassium and nitrogen. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ...

    4K + O₂ → 2K₂O General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ...

Potassium oxide is a very basic oxide and reacts with water violently to produce the caustic potassium hydroxide. It is deliquescent in air and will absorb water from the atmosphere, initiating this vigorous reaction. It is therefore both toxic and corrosive to human tissue. R-phrases , S-phrases , , , Flash point non flammable RTECS number TT2100000 Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Deliquescent materials are substances (mostly salts) which have a strong affinity for moisture and will absorb relatively large amount of water from the atmosphere if exposed to it, forming a liquid solution. ...

Metallic potassium is sometimes used to eliminate the last traces of oxygen in a vacuum. Potassium oxide is the main by-product of this reaction. General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ...

The chemical formula K₂O is used in the N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) numbers on the labels of fertilizers. Although K₂O is the correct formula for potassium oxide, potassium oxide is not used as a fertilizer in these products. Normally, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, or potassium carbonate is used as a fertilizer source for potassium. The percentage of K₂O given on the label only represents the amount of potassium in the fertilizer if it was in the form of potassium oxide. Potassium oxide is about 83% potassium by weight, but potassium chloride, for instance, is only 52% potassium by weight. Potassium chloride provides less potassium than an equal amount of potassium oxide. Thus, if a fertilizer is 30% potassium chloride by weight, its standard potassium rating, based on potassium oxide, would be only 19%. The chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide composed of potassium and chlorine. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Potassium carbonate is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in alcohol), which forms a strongly alkaline solution. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... The chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide composed of potassium and chlorine. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... The chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide composed of potassium and chlorine. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... The chemical compound potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide composed of potassium and chlorine. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ...

References

Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (14th Edition), McGraw-Hill, 1992; Section 1; Table 1.15
The Condensed Chemical Dictionary (10th Edition), Gesner G. Hawley
Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry: Volume 1 (2nd Edition), Georg Brauer, 1963
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/AgriFert/agrifert.html
http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0769.htm
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/compounds/text/K/K2O1-12136457.html