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Compounds

Four oxides of potassium are well studied: potassium oxide (K O), potassium peroxide (K O), potassium superoxide (KO) and potassium ozonide (KO). The binary potassium-oxygen compounds react with water forming KOH.

KOH is a strong base. Illustrating its hydrophilic character, as much as 1.21 kg of KOH can dissolve in a single liter of water. Anhydrous KOH is rarely encountered. KOH reacts readily with carbon dioxide (CO) to produce potassium carbonate (K CO), and in principle could be used to remove traces of the gas from air. Like the closely related sodium hydroxide, KOH reacts with fats to produce soaps.

In general, potassium compounds are ionic and, owing to the high hydration energy of the K ion, have excellent water solubility. The main species in water solution are the aquo complexes where n = 6 and 7.

Potassium heptafluorotantalate (K) is an intermediate in the purification of tantalum from the otherwise persistent contaminant of niobium.

Organopotassium compounds illustrate nonionic compounds of potassium. They feature highly polar covalent K–C bonds. Examples include benzyl potassium KCH C H. Potassium intercalates into graphite to give a variety of graphite intercalation compounds, including KC.