Question

Caustic potash is potassium hydroxide $(KOH)$.
A) True
B) False

Answer 1

Hint: The answer to this question is based on the basic concept of chemistry which deals with the chemical names as well as the common name and the answer is obtained based on this concept.

Complete Solution :
We have come across the chapters in inorganic chemistry about the various bases and acids and also about the common names given to them.
- Now, we shall see some details about the potassium hydroxide and whether it has a common name or not.
- Potassium hydroxide is the prototypical strong base with the formula $KOH$ and is an inorganic compound.
- This potassium hydroxide is having many industrial applications among those most of which exploit its caustic nature and also its reactivity towards acids.
- Thus, this has the caustic properties and therefore the common name given to this compound is caustic potash.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Additional information-
Potassium hydroxide or caustic potash is used in the saponification of fats which gives the corresponding potassium soaps. Aqueous potassium hydroxides are employed as an electrolyte in alkaline batteries. Caustic potash is mainly used as a cleansing agent and this compound is used in food as stabilizer for adjusting pH and as a thickening agent.

Note: Do not be confused about caustic potash and caustic soda because caustic soda is the common name which is given for sodium hydroxide whereas caustic potash is the common name given for potassium hydroxide. These two terms are to be remembered so that confusions do not occur.