potassium hydroxide

noun

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of potassium hydroxide

: a white deliquescent solid KOH that dissolves in water with much heat to form a strongly alkaline and caustic liquid and is used chiefly in making soap and as a reagent

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Recent Examples of potassium hydroxide from the Web

This produces potassium hydroxide, which is recycled back to the contactor, and pellets of calcium carbonate.

— The Economist, "Extracting carbon dioxide from the air is possible. But at what cost?," 7 June 2018
Using a main ingredient of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide, chemical relaxers break and restructure the bonds in curly hair so that the hair becomes weaker and straight.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "The Everything Guide to Keratin Treatments," 15 May 2018
Alkaline hydrolysis involves placing a body in a chamber that is then filled with water and potassium hydroxide and heated to about 320 degrees F at high pressure.

— caren chesler, Popular Mechanics, "Burning Out: What Really Happens Inside a Crematorium," 1 Mar. 2018
The tank fills with water, and a few scoops of potassium hydroxide and sodium are added (amounts depend on how hard or soft your water is, as well as your elevation).

— melissa davis, The Seattle Times, "A respectful, eco-friendly way to say goodbye," 31 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'potassium hydroxide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of potassium hydroxide

1866

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

potassium hydroxide

noun

medical Definition of potassium hydroxide

: a white deliquescent solid KOH that dissolves in water with much heat to form a strongly alkaline liquid and that is used as a powerful caustic and in the making of pharmaceuticals — called also caustic potash