Origin of the term potash can be traced back to the Dutch word of potaschen. Potash has been used in many different applications from historic times. It was mainly used to make glass and also in textile industries. Potash was used in the soap making industry from 500 A.D. The method of leaching ashes of both sea and land plants was used in preparing potash. The mining of potash began in Ethiopia in the 14th century. So what is potash made of? The term potash is used for chemical compounds (salts) that contain a water-soluble form of potassium. One of the commonly found potassium compounds/potash is potassium chloride.
Facts about Potash
Some of the important facts pertaining to potash are presented below. The benefits of this chemical can be understood by means of this information.
- Potash is the 7th most common element found on earth. Proportion of potash contained in sea water is of 390 mg per liter. About 4 ppm of potash can be found in rainwater.
- Potash rock is the commonly used source to obtain this chemical.
- A variety of body functions are carried out with the help of potash. The amount of potassium required to maintain a healthy body (in adults) is 2 grams/day. Different sources through which potassium can be obtained are milk, root vegetables, bananas, fruit juice, etc.
- Fighting off the extreme temperatures (for plants) is possible with the help of potassium intake. The other problems/hazards that potassium helps overcome are attacks of insects (pests), weeds, etc. Plants can overcome stressful conditions with help of potassium.
- Potassium proves to be useful in the process of strengthening roots of plants; it also prevents the process of wilting.
- The processes of starch formation and protein synthesis are influenced by potassium to a great extent.
Potash rock is the source used in preparing the potash fertilizer. Potassium chloride is processed into forms of potash fertilizers like the potassium sulfate (K2SO4). Organic form of the potash fertilizer is wood ash. The wood ashes contain 6% of potash. The benefits offered by potash fertilizers are as follows:
- Potash is responsible for speedy growth of roots.
- Intensity of the diseases, which affect plant growth is reduced by the use of potash.
- Potash is considered to be useful from the point of photosynthesis.
- Production of grains that possess a high content of starches can be achieved by the use of potash fertilizers.
- Potash proves to be useful in the build-up of cellulose.
- Around 50 enzymes get activated due to the action of potash.
- Potash proves to be useful from the point of maintaining turgor and reducing wilting in plants.
It is common knowledge that potash acts as a poison to heart. However, this chemical is also known to affect the nervous system and brain. The heart can get paralyzed with the introduction of potash into the circulatory system (and finally reaching the heart). Injection of potash in the jugular vein also has a similar effect. Chloride of potassium is a protoplasmic poison. It affects the brain and nervous system.
What is Potash Alum?
The chemical formula of potash alum is KAl(SO4)2 or KAl(SO4)2,12H2O. The specific name of this compound is hydrated potassium aluminum sulfate. Alum is actually a wider class of chemical compounds other than one mentioned above. The empirical formula for this class of alums is AB(SO4)2,12H2O. Potash alum is soluble in water. It is a naturally occurring mineral; potash alum occurs in the form of encrustations on rocks. Earlier, the mineral called alunite was used in the preparation of potash alum.
The article presents information about potash, what is its chemical composition and also the related facts associated with this chemical.
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