Potash
Potash is a term that refers to a group of potassium compounds and potassium-bearing materials, the most common being potassium chloride (KCl). The term potash comes from the Middle Dutch word potaschen (pot ashes, 1477). All potassium is a chemical element that is essential for life and is found in abundance in nature.
History[edit | edit source]
The term "potash" comes from the practice of extracting potassium from wood ash in pots, a practice that dates back to ancient times. The chemical symbol for potassium, K, comes from the Latin word kalium, which was taken from the Arabic word al-qalyah, meaning "plant ashes". In 1807, Sir Humphry Davy discovered that potassium was a distinct chemical element.
Production[edit | edit source]
Potash is produced worldwide in amounts exceeding 90 million tonnes per year, mostly for use in fertilizers. Various types of fertilizer-potash constitute the single largest industrial use of the element potassium in the world. Potassium was first derived by electrolysis of caustic potash, in 1807.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Potash has been used since antiquity in the manufacture of glass and soap and as a fertilizer. The ancient method of producing it was to evaporate the water from seawater and other mineral-rich brine.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- PotashCorp - A major producer of potash
- K+S KALI GmbH - Another major producer of potash
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD