Difference Between Potassium Carbonate and Potassium Bicarbonate

The key difference between Potassium Carbonate and Potassium Bicarbonate is that potassium carbonate molecule has no hydrogen atoms in its chemical structure whereas potassium bicarbonate molecule has one hydrogen atom in its chemical structure.

Both these are potassium salts; thus, are highly alkaline compounds.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Potassium Carbonate
3. What is Potassium Bicarbonate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Potassium Carbonate vs Potassium Bicarbonate in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Potassium Carbonate?

Potassium carbonate is a potassium salt having the chemical formula K₂CO₃. It is highly water soluble and forms a strongly alkaline aqueous solution. In addition, it is highly deliquescent. Therefore, it absorbs water vapor from the atmosphere and dissolves.

Properties of Potassium Carbonate

Some chemical facts about potassium carbonate are as follows:

• Chemical formula = K₂CO₃
• Molar mass = 138.2 g/mol
• Melting point =891 °C
• Boiling point =decomposes
• Appearance = white solid
• Water solubility = highly water soluble

Potassium carbonate production involves the electrolysis of potassium chloride (KCl). This gives potassium hydroxide (KOH). Then carbonation of this using carbon dioxide forms potassium carbonate.

What is Potassium Bicarbonate?

Potassium bicarbonate is a potassium salt having the chemical formula KHCO₃. It is a colorless and odorless solid and it appears as white crystals. This compound is slightly basic. Furthermore, it rarely occurs naturally in a form of mineral; kalicinite.

Properties of Potassium Bicarbonate

Some chemical facts about potassium bicarbonate are as follows:

• Chemical formula = KHCO₃
• Molar mass = 100.12 g/mol
• Meting point =292 °C
• Boiling point = decomposes
• Appearance = white crystals
• Water solubility =water soluble

A major use of this compound is as a leavening agent for bakery products. In addition, it is a major additive in winemaking to regulate the pH. Moreover, potassium bicarbonate is a strong fire suppressing agent and an effective fungicide.

What is the Difference Between Potassium Carbonate and Potassium Bicarbonate?

Potassium Carbonate vs Potassium Bicarbonate
A potassium salt that has the chemical formula K2CO3.	A potassium salt that has the chemical formula KHCO3.
Appearance
Appears as a white solid.	Appears as white crystals.
Molar Mass
138.2 g/mol	100.12 g/mol
Basicity
Highly alkaline	Slightly basic
Melting Point
891 °C	292 °C

Summary – Potassium Carbonate vs Potassium Bicarbonate

Potassium carbonate and bicarbonate are potassium salts that are basic compounds. The difference between potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate is that potassium carbonate molecule has no hydrogen atoms in its chemical structure whereas potassium bicarbonate molecule has one hydrogen atom in its chemical structure.

Reference:

1. “Potassium Carbonate.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available here  
2. “Potassium Bicarbonate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 May 2018. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.’Potassium carbonate’By No machine-readable author provided. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’Hydrogenuhličitan draselný’By Ondřej Mangl – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia