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Potassium
Chloride is a white crystalline solid with saline taste, soluble in water
(more soluble than sodium chloride in hot water but less in cold),
insoluble in pure alcohol, hydrochloric acid, ether and acetone; specific
gravity 1.984, melting at 772 C and sublimes at 1500 C. It is produced
industrially by fractional crystallization of the mineral sylvite and
carnallite or from the solution of lake brines. Potassium chloride is
used as a fertilizer, in photography, pharmaceutical preparations and in
preparing other potassium compounds such as the chlorate, carbonate,
sulfate, nitrate and the hydroxide (electrolysis of potassium chloride
produces potassium hydroxide, called caustic potash). It is also used in
petroleum industry, rubber industry, electroplating industry.
Pharmaceutical grade is used as a potassium supplement administered by
oral or injection. Potassium Chloride is used in manufacturing liquid
detergents and soft soaps as a viscosity-regulator.
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