At a Glance
Material Family
Acids & Salts
Record Type
Salt
Primary Role
pH Adjustment · Synthesis Intermediate
Functional Roles
Industries Served
Applications & Use Cases
- ▸ Serves as the acidulant and chemical leavening agent in baking powders and self-rising flours, reacting with sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide and control batter pH.
- ▸ Used in winemaking and beverage processing for cold stabilization, where its low aqueous solubility drives controlled tartrate crystallization and removal of excess potassium.
- ▸ Functions as a brightening and reducing additive in metal-finishing baths, including gold, silver, and tin electroplating and chemical metal-polishing formulations.
- ▸ Acts as a buffering and chelating component in industrial and household cleaning compounds, helping sequester metal ions and remove tarnish from brass and copper surfaces.
- ▸ Supplied as a feedstock for the manufacture of Rochelle salt (potassium sodium tartrate) and other tartrate derivatives used in mirror-silvering and electronics applications.
Physical Properties
appearance
White crystalline powder
molecular_weight
188.18 g/mol
density
1.954 g/cm3
water_solubility
0.57 g/100 mL (20 C)
decomposition_temperature
~230 C (decomposes)
ph
3.5 (saturated aqueous solution)
Safety & Handling
Full SDS available on request
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Chemical Identity
CAS Number
868-14-4
Molecular Formula
C4H5KO6
Molecular Weight
188.18 g/mol
IUPAC Name
potassium 2,3,4-trihydroxy-4-oxobutanoate
PubChem CID
InChI Key
KYKNRZGSIGMXFH-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Synonyms & Trade Names
Related Products
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA, 49 CFR 172.101, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot purchased governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information. Trademarks. Third-party trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners; any reference is nominative — used only to identify a comparable product — and does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by the trademark owner.