Potassium ethanolate

Structural formula
General
Surname	Potassium ethanolate
other names	Potassium ethylate Potassium ethoxide
Molecular formula	C 2 H 5 KO
Brief description	white to yellowish powder
External identifiers / databases
CAS number 917-58-8 EC number 213-029-0 ECHA InfoCard 100,011,845 PubChem 23670592 ChemSpider 63375 Wikidata Q1722301
properties
Molar mass	84.16 g mol −1
Physical state	firmly
density	0.83 g cm −3 (20 ° C)
Melting point	260 ° C (with exclusion of oxygen)
safety instructions
GHS hazard labeling from  Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP) , expanded if necessary danger H and P phrases H: 228-251-314 EUH: 014 P: 235 + 410-280-305 + 351 + 338-310
As far as possible and customary, SI units are used. Unless otherwise noted, the data given apply to standard conditions .

Potassium ethanolate is a highly flammable, white to yellowish powder with the empirical formula C2H5KO from the group of alcoholates and is mostly used as a strong base .

Extraction and presentation

Potassium ethanolate can be prepared from ethanol and potassium :

${\displaystyle \mathrm {2\ CH_{3}CH_{2}OH+2\ K\longrightarrow 2\ CH_{3}CH_{2}OK+H_{2}} }$

Chemical properties

Potassium ethanolate is only resistant when moisture is excluded. The compound reacts with humidity or water in a strongly exothermic reaction with the formation of ethanol and potassium hydroxide :

${\displaystyle \mathrm {CH_{3}CH_{2}OK+H_{2}O\longrightarrow CH_{3}CH_{2}OH+KOH(aq)} }$

With aluminum or zinc, potassium ethanolate develops the explosive gas hydrogen . The compound is self-igniting between 90 and 100 ° C.

use

Potassium ethanolate is used as a strong base in synthesis. It is still used for alkaline varnish degradation .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Entry on potassium ethoxide in the GESTIS substance database of the IFA , accessed on January 8, 2018(JavaScript required) .
2. ↑ Entry on Potassium ethanolate in the Classification and Labeling Inventory of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), accessed on February 1, 2016. Manufacturers or distributors can expand the harmonized classification and labeling .
3. ↑ Data sheet Potassium ethoxide from Sigma-Aldrich , accessed on February 3, 2018 ( PDF ).
4. ↑ Fraunhofer IRB: Potassium entry in the painting surface ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.