K2HPO4 - Dipotassium Phosphate

What is Dipotassium phosphate?

Dipotassium Phosphate is the dipotassium salt of phosphoric acid with the chemical formula K₂HPO₄. It is freely soluble in water and insoluble in ethanol. The reaction chemistry for the production of dipotassium phosphate appears as a condensation of phosphoric acid using potassium hydroxide. Phosphoric acid is in turn manufactured from phosphate rock, which is found in several places throughout the world.

Other names – Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, Potassium phosphate dibasic

Dipotassium Phosphate Structure – K₂HPO₄

Physical Properties of Dipotassium Phosphate – K₂HPO₄

Chemical Properties of Dipotassium Phosphate – K₂HPO₄

• • Dipotassium Phosphate reacts with hydrogen chloride forms phosphoric acid and potassium chloride. The chemical equation is given below.

K₂HPO₄ + 2HCl → 2KCl + H₃PO₄

• • Dipotassium Phosphate reacts with a base like sodium hydroxide forms disodium hydrogen phosphate and water.

3K₂HPO₄ + 2NaOH → Na₂HPO₄ + 2K₃PO₄ + 2H₂O

Uses of Dipotassium Phosphate – K₂HPO₄

• Dipotassium phosphate is used in fertilizers, due to the highly water-soluble property it is often used because it delivers a high amount of phosphorous to the growing plants.
• Used as a food additive, but the grades are different for food versus fertilizer use.
• Used to increase the pH of milk which would increase micellar net charge.
• Used as a competitive displacement of calcium by sodium in the micelles.