Knowra Potassium chloride Potassium chloride Potassium chloride (KCl) is an ionic compound made of potassium and chloride ions in a one-to-one ratio. It occurs naturally as the mineral sylvite and is widely used in fertilizers, food, and medicine.
Potash : Water-soluble potassium compounds mined or manufactured for use chiefly as fertilizers. Potassium chloride is the largest source of potash used in agricultural fertilizers.
Ionic bond : An electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, typically formed after electron transfer. Electrostatic attraction between K⁺ and Cl⁻ holds the KCl crystal together.
Sylvite : The naturally occurring mineral form of potassium chloride, usually crystallizing in the cubic system. Sylvite is the mineral name for naturally occurring KCl.
Sodium chloride : An ionic compound of sodium and chloride, with formula NaCl, commonly known as table salt. NaCl supplies sodium, whereas KCl supplies potassium and often replaces it in reduced-sodium foods.
Fertilizer : A natural or manufactured material applied to plants or soil to supply essential nutrients. KCl supplies potassium to crops, though its chloride content can harm sensitive plants.
Potassium ion : A positively charged potassium atom, usually written K⁺, formed by losing one electron. Each formula unit of KCl contains one potassium ion.
Sylvinite : An evaporite ore composed mainly of intergrown sylvite and halite. Much mined KCl is recovered from sylvinite after separating it from sodium chloride.
Potassium sulfate : An inorganic potassium salt with formula K₂SO₄, used as a fertilizer that supplies potassium and sulfur. Unlike KCl, it avoids adding chloride to crops sensitive to that ion.
Potassium chloride injection : A sterile potassium chloride solution administered intravenously to treat or prevent low blood potassium. This concentrated medicinal form corrects hypokalemia when oral replacement is unsuitable.
Chloride ion : A negatively charged chlorine atom, written Cl⁻, formed by gaining one electron. Each formula unit pairs one chloride ion with one potassium ion.
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