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

K2HPO4 Dipotassium Phosphate
Density 2.44 g/cm³
Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass 174.2 g/mol
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor 4
Melting Point > 465 °C
Chemical Formula K2HPO4

Dipotassium Phosphate Structure – K2HPO4

Dipotassium Phosphate Structure

Physical Properties of Dipotassium Phosphate – K2HPO4

Odour Odourless
Appearance White powder; deliquescent
Covalently-Bonded Unit 3
Heavy Atom Count 7
Complexity 4605
Solubility Soluble in water

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.
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  1. Nice site,
    Thank you!