All articles starting with P

Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate (KNO₃), historically known as saltpeter or nitre, is a colorless crystalline salt used as a fertilizer, meat-curing agent, toothpaste ingredient, and the oxidizer in black powder.

Potassium oleate (CAS 143-18-0), the potassium salt of oleic acid (C18H33KO2), is a soap used as the active ingredient in insecticidal soaps and as a detergent, emulsifier, food, and cosmetic ingredient; EPA-registered in the US, not EU-approved as a pesticide.

Potassium oxide

Potassium oxide (K₂O), also called dipotassium oxide, is a white, hygroscopic ionic compound of potassium and oxygen that reacts violently with water to form potassium hydroxide.

Potassium oxonate

Potassium oxonate, also called oteracil potassium, is a uricase inhibitor used to induce hyperuricemia in laboratory rodents and as a component of the anticancer drug S-1.

Potassium perchlorate

Potassium perchlorate is an inorganic salt with the chemical formula KClO₄, a white crystalline strong oxidizer used as the principal oxidizer in civilian pyrotechnics and formerly to treat thyroid disorders.

Potassium permanganate

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4), also known as Condy's crystals, is a dark purple crystalline salt and strong oxidizing agent used in water treatment and as a mild antiseptic.

Potassium persulfate

Potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈), or potassium peroxydisulfate, is the potassium salt of peroxydisulfuric acid, a white crystalline solid used as a strong oxidizing agent and free-radical initiator.

Oct 20, 2026

Potassium phosphonates

Potassium phosphonates (potassium phosphite), a mixture of potassium hydrogen and dipotassium phosphonate, are EU-approved systemic fungicides against oomycetes such as Phytophthora and Plasmopara, degrading to phosphonic acid; banned as fertilizer additives and excluded from organic farming.

Oct 20, 2026

Potassium polyaspartate

Potassium polyaspartate (KPA, INS 456, CAS 64723-18-8) is a synthetic polyaspartic acid potassium salt used as a wine stabilizer, inhibiting potassium bitartrate crystal growth; OIV-approved 2016, EFSA/JECFA/FDA evaluated.

Potassium silicate

Potassium silicate, also known as potassium waterglass, is an alkaline, water-soluble inorganic salt that serves as a fertilizer and pesticide, a high-temperature binder, and a coating for concrete.

Potassium sodium niobate

Potassium sodium niobate (KNN) is a lead-free perovskite piezoelectric ceramic, a solid solution of potassium niobate and sodium niobate and the most researched lead-free alternative to PZT.

Potassium sodium tartrate

Potassium sodium tartrate, also called Rochelle salt or Seignette salt, is a colorless, water-soluble salt of tartaric acid, commercialized from 1655 by Élie Seignette and known as the first ferroelectric material and a strong piezoelectric crystal.

Potassium sorbate

Potassium sorbate (E202, INS 202), the potassium salt of sorbic acid (C6H7KO2, CAS 24634-61-5), is a widely used preservative inhibiting yeasts and molds, effective at acidic pH, GRAS in the US and authorized in the EU.

Potassium sulfate

Potassium sulfate, also known as sulfate of potash, is a white, water-soluble inorganic compound with formula K2SO4, occurring naturally as the mineral arcanite and sold widely as a chloride-free potassium fertilizer.

Oct 22, 2026

Potassium tantalate

Potassium tantalate (KTaO3) is a wide-gap perovskite oxide and quantum paraelectric that stays cubic at all temperatures, and since 2021 a leading platform for superconducting oxide-interface electron gases with strong spin-orbit coupling.

Potassium tartrate

Potassium tartrate, food additive E 336, consists of the potassium salts of L(+)-tartaric acid: monopotassium tartrate, better known as cream of tartar, and dipotassium tartrate.

Potassium tert-butoxide

Potassium tert-butoxide, also known as potassium 2-methylpropan-2-olate, is the potassium salt of the tert-butoxide anion, a strong, bulky base and poor nucleophile widely used in E2 eliminations, enolate formation, and palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings.

Potassium thiocyanate

Potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) is the potassium salt of thiocyanic acid, a highly water-soluble crystalline solid used as an analytical reagent and best known for its blood-red iron(III) complex.

Potassium titanyl phosphate

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) is a synthetic ferroelectric crystal, a standard material for laser frequency conversion, notably doubling Nd:YAG 1064 nm light to green 532 nm.

Potassium transporter

Potassium transporter: membrane protein moving K+ across membranes. Two families, Trk/Ktr/HKT and HAK/Kup/KT, occur in bacteria, fungi, and plants, absent from animals, mediating K+ uptake, osmotic adjustment, and salt tolerance.

Potassium tri iodide

Potassium triiodide (KI3, Lugol's iodine) is the potassium salt of the linear triiodide ion I3-, formed when iodine dissolves in potassium iodide solution; CAS 12298-68-9, UNII T66M6Y3KSA, stable mainly as a dark brown monohydrate.

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily E member 1

KCNE1, also known as MinK, is a human gene on chromosome 21 encoding a regulatory beta-subunit of the KCNQ1 potassium channel, linked to long QT syndrome.

Potassium-40

Potassium-40 (⁴⁰K) is the only naturally radioactive isotope of potassium, making up 0.0117% of natural potassium with a half-life of about 1.25 billion years, decaying to calcium-40 and argon-40.

Potassium-ion battery

A potassium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery in which potassium ions move between cathode and graphite anode; it is a low-cost lithium-ion alternative for grid storage, still in development.

Potassium-rich sugarcane extract

Potassium-rich sugarcane extract, from Saccharum officinarum juice, is a sugar-depleted potassium salt ingredient; FDA GRAS Notice 538 (2014-2015) covered its use in fruit juice and flavored water at up to 7.75%.

Potassium-sparing diuretic

Potassium-sparing diuretics (amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone, eplerenone, finerenone) are weak diuretics acting in the collecting duct via ENaC blockade or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism, sparing potassium but risking hyperkalemia; used in heart failure, resistant hypertension, and ascites.