Kaliumsulfat

BeschreibungPotassium sulfate (K2SO4) is a kind of chemical compounds that is commonly used in agriculture. The dominant application of potassium sulfate is as a fertilizer, which is commonly applied to offer both potassium and sulfur, thus improving the quality and yield of crops growing in soils that lack an adequate supply of this essential elements. Besides, the crude potassium sulfate is sometimes employed in the production of glass. It also has applications in other industries, which is used as a flash reducer in artillery propellant charges and as an alternative blast media similar to soda in the process of soda blasting. potassium sulfate powder

OccurrencePotassium and sodium sulfates and their double sulfates with calcium and magnesium occur naturally in various salt lakes. Potassium sulfate also occurs in certain volcanic lava. Its double salt with magnesium occurs in nature, as the mineral langbeinite.Potassium sulfate is used in fertilizers as a source of potassium and sulfur, both of which are essential elements for plant growth. Either in sim-ple form or as a double salt with magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate is one of the most widely consumed potassium salts in agricultural applications. It is preferred over potassium chloride for certain types of crops; such as, tobac-co, citrus, and other chloride-sensitive crops. Some other applications include making gypsum cements; to make potassium alum; in the analysis of Kjeldahl nitrogen; and in medicine.

HistoryPotassium sulfate has been known since the early 14th century. It was studied by Glauber, Boyle, and Tachenius. In the 17th century, it was named arcanuni or sal duplicatum, as it was a combination of an acid salt with an alkaline salt. It was also known as vitriolic tartar and Glaser's salt or sal polychrestum Glaseri after the pharmaceutical chemist Christopher Glaser, who prepared and used it medicinally. From the early to mid-19th century, as understanding of plant nutritional requirements deepened and the fertilizer industry emerged, potassium sulphate began to be produced on a large scale as a vital potash fertiliser.

Verwendenpotassium sulfate is a reagent in cosmetics. Potassium sulfate is an inorganic salt with a primary function as a viscosity-increasing agent.

DefinitionPotassium sulfate is a potassium salt and an inorganic potassium salt. It is a white crystalline powder, K2SO4, soluble inwater and insoluble in ethanol;rhombic or hexagonal; r.d. 2.66; m.p.1069°C. It occurs naturally assch nite (Strassfurt deposits) and inlake brines, from which it is separatedby fractional crystallization. Ithas also been produced by the Hargreavesprocess, which involves theoxidation of potassium chloride withsulphuric acid. In the laboratory itmay be obtained by the reaction ofeither potassium hydroxide or potassiumcarbonate with sulphuric acid.Potassium sulphate is used in cements,in glass manufacture, as a food additive, and as a fertilizer(source of K+) for chloride-sensitiveplants, such as tobacco and citrus.