potassium hydroxide

noun

|Updated on: 3 Aug 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

See potassium hydroxide defined for kids

Recent Examples of potassium hydroxide from the Web

First, air is channelled by fans onto a honeycombed plastic slab called a contactor, where CO2, which is acidic, reacts with aqueous potassium hydroxide, which is alkaline.

— The Economist, "Extracting carbon dioxide from the air is possible. But at what cost?," 7 June 2018
According to Nails magazine, the most common active ingredients found in callus-removing formulas are urea, salicylic acid (which is commonly found in acne treatments) and potassium hydroxide.

— marci robin, Good Housekeeping, "Woman Says She Suffered Horrifying Burns on Her Foot During Salon Pedicure," 7 Nov. 2017
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

NEW! Time Traveler

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