potassium hydroxide

noun

: 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web On the inside, there's a concentrated solution of a single salt—potassium hydroxide (KOH) in this case—that's compatible with the hydrogen-producing electrolysis process. —

John Timmer, Ars Technica, 30 Nov. 2022 Natural burials have grown in popularity, as has resomation, where bodies are dissolved in water and potassium hydroxide. —

William Ralston, Wired, 26 July 2022 Specifically, after about two weeks or so of operation, while doing regular maintenance, technicians collect all the potassium hydroxide that has accumulated and recharge it with new chemicals to create potassium carbonate. —

Anne Field, Forbes, 26 May 2022 For example, an alkaline battery, or cell, contains zinc, manganese dioxide, and potassium hydroxide. —

Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2022 Water is drawn from the Las Vegas-area municipal supply, according to the complaint, filtered and processed with potassium hydroxide, or lye, the chemical potassium bicarbonate and magnesium chloride, a salt. —

Ken Ritter, chicagotribune.com, 24 May 2021 Water is drawn from the Las Vegas-area municipal supply, according to the complaint, filtered and processed with potassium hydroxide, or lye, the chemical potassium bicarbonate and magnesium chloride, a salt. —

Ken Ritter, chicagotribune.com, 24 May 2021 See More

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of potassium hydroxide was in 1866

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near potassium hydroxide

potassium hydrate

potassium hydroxide

potassium hypochlorite

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Potassium hydroxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potassium%20hydroxide. Accessed 4 Feb. 2023.

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Kids Definition

potassium hydroxide

noun

: a white solid that dissolves in water to form a very alkaline liquid and is used especially in making soap

Medical Definition

potassium hydroxide

noun

: 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