Question

Is KOH an acid or base?

Answer 1

Potassium hydroxide$\mathbf{\left(}\mathbf{KOH}\mathbf{\right)}$:

1. It is a metallic hydroxide and we know that generally metallic hydroxides are basic in nature.
2. According to Arrhenius's definition, the compound that releases ${\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$ ion in an aqueous solution is called a base.
3. In an aqueous solution $\mathrm{KOH}$ dissociates as: $\mathrm{KOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{K}}^{+}+{\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$ thus we get ${\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$ ion in the solution making solution basic.

So, $\mathrm{KOH}$ is a base.