Characteristic

Potassium acetate (KCH₃CO₂) is the potassium salt of acetic acid. It offers the advantage of being less aggressive on soils and much less corrosive, and for this reason, is preferred for airport runways.

Chemical formula:KCH₃CO₂

Molar mass:98.142 g/mol

Appearance:White deliquescent crystalline powder

Density:1.8 g/cm³ (20 °C);1.57 g/cm³ (25 °C)

Melting point:292 °C (558 °F; 565 K)

Boiling point:Decomposes

Solubility in water:216.7 g/100 mL (0.1 °C);233.8 g/100 mL (10 °C);268.6 g/100 mL (25 °C);320.8 g/100 mL (40 °C);390.7 g/100 mL (96 °C)

Solubility:Soluble in alcohol, liquid ammonia;Insoluble in ether, acetone

Solubility in methanol:24.24 g/100 g (15 °C);53.54 g/100 g (73.4 °C)

Solubility in ethanol:16.3 g/100 g

Solubility in sulfur dioxide:0.06 g/kg (0 °C)

Acidity (pKa):4.76

Crystal structure:Monoclinic

Application

Potassium acetate is used as deicer to remove snow and ice from the surface and is considered as a replacement for calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. It is used as a food additive; as a buffer in biological research; as extinguishing agent used in class K fire extinguishers and as a catalyst to produce polyurethane polymers. It is utilized for the precipitation of dodecyl sulfate bound proteins thereby removal of proteins from DNA. It plays an important role for preserving tissues, fixation and mummification. .