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Potassium sulphate

Potassium sulfate
Arcanite
Arcanite
Potassium sulfate
Names
Other names
Potassium sulphate
Identifiers
7778-80-5 YesY
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
ChEBI CHEBI:32036 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL1201793 N
ChemSpider 22915 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.013
E number E515 (acidity regulators, ...)
KEGG D01726 YesY
PubChem 24507
RTECS number TT5900000
UNII 1K573LC5TV YesY
Properties
K2SO4
Molar mass 174.259 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Odor odorless
Density 2.66 g/cm3
Melting point 1,069 °C (1,956 °F; 1,342 K)
Boiling point 1,689 °C (3,072 °F; 1,962 K)
111 g/L (20 °C)
120 g/L (25 °C)
240 g/L (100 °C)
Solubility slightly soluble in glycerol
insoluble in acetone, alcohol, CS2
−67.0·10−6 cm3/mol
1.495
Structure
orthorhombic
Hazards
Main hazards Irritant
Safety data sheet External MSDS
R-phrases R22
S-phrases S36
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
6600 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Related compounds
Other anions
Potassium selenate
Potassium tellurate
Other cations
Lithium sulfate
Sodium sulfate
Rubidium sulfate
Caesium sulfate
Related compounds
Potassium hydrogen sulfate
Potassium sulfite
Potassium bisulfite
Potassium persulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) (in British English potassium sulphate, also called sulphate of potash, arcanite, or archaically known as potash of sulfur) is a non-flammable white crystalline salt which is soluble in water. The chemical compound is commonly used in fertilizers, providing both potassium and sulfur.

Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) has been known since early in the 14th century, and it was studied by Glauber, Boyle, and Tachenius. In the 17th century, it was named arcanuni or sal duplicatum, as it was a combination of an acid salt with an alkaline salt. It was also known as vitriolic tartar and Glaser's salt or sal polychrestum Glaseri after the pharmaceutical chemist Christopher Glaser who prepared it and used medicinally.

The mineral form of potassium sulfate, arcanite, is relatively rare. Natural resources of potassium sulfate are minerals abundant in the Stassfurt salt. These are cocrystallizations of potassium sulfate and sulfates of magnesium calcium and sodium.

Relevant minerals are:

The potassium sulfate can be separated from some of these minerals, like kainite, because the corresponding salt is less soluble in water.

Kieserite, MgSO4·H2O, can be combined with a solution of potassium chloride to produce potassium sulfate.

Approximately 1.5 million tons were produced in 1985, typically by the reaction of potassium chloride with sulfuric acid, analogous to the Leblanc process. Potassium sulfate is produced according to the following reaction, which is conducted in so-called Mannheim furnaces:


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