Recent from talks
Potash
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Potash
The term potash (/ˈpɒtæʃ/ POT-ash) includes mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. The term potash derives from pot ash, either plant ashes or wood ashes that were soaked in water in a pot, which was the primary means of manufacturing potash before the Industrial Era; the word potassium derives from the term potash.
In 2021, the worldwide production of potash exceeded 71.9 million tonnes (~45.4 million tonnes K2O equivalent), and Canada is the greatest producer of potash as fertilizer. Potassium was first derived in 1807 by electrolysis of caustic potash (potassium hydroxide).
The term potash refers to compounds of potassium and to potassium-bearing materials, usually potassium carbonate. The usage of the term potash dates from 1477, and derives from the Middle Dutch word potaschen, denoting pot ashes.
The old method of making potassium carbonate (K
2CO
3) was either by collecting or by producing wood ash (the occupation of the ash burner), chemically leaching the ashes and then evaporating the resulting solution in large iron pots, which yielded a white residue denominated "pot ash"; approximately 10% by weight of common wood ash can be recovered as potash.
The term potash later identified minerals that contained potassium salts and the artificial commercial product derived from the salts. The table identifies eight (8) potassium compounds with the term potash in their traditional names:
Most of the world reserves of potassium (K) were deposited as sea water in ancient inland oceans. After the water evaporated, the potassium salts crystallized into beds of potash ore. These are the locations where potash is being mined today. The deposits are a naturally occurring mixture of potassium chloride (KCl; mineral name sylvite) and sodium chloride (NaCl; mineral name halite), more commonly known as table salt. Over time, as the surface of the earth changed, these deposits were covered by thousands of feet of earth.
Potash (especially potassium carbonate) has been used in bleaching textiles, making glass, ceramic, and making soap, since the Bronze Age. Potash was principally obtained by leaching the ashes of wood burned for heating and cooking.
Beginning in the 14th century potash was mined in Ethiopia. One of the world's largest deposits, 140 to 150 million tons, is located in the Dallol area of the Afar Region.
Potash was one of the most important industrial chemicals. It was refined from the ashes of broadleaved trees and produced primarily in the forested areas of Europe, Russia, and North America. Although methods for producing artificial alkalis were invented in the late 18th century, these did not become economical until the late 19th century and so the dependence on organic sources of potash remained.
Hub AI
Potash AI simulator
(@Potash_simulator)
Potash
The term potash (/ˈpɒtæʃ/ POT-ash) includes mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. The term potash derives from pot ash, either plant ashes or wood ashes that were soaked in water in a pot, which was the primary means of manufacturing potash before the Industrial Era; the word potassium derives from the term potash.
In 2021, the worldwide production of potash exceeded 71.9 million tonnes (~45.4 million tonnes K2O equivalent), and Canada is the greatest producer of potash as fertilizer. Potassium was first derived in 1807 by electrolysis of caustic potash (potassium hydroxide).
The term potash refers to compounds of potassium and to potassium-bearing materials, usually potassium carbonate. The usage of the term potash dates from 1477, and derives from the Middle Dutch word potaschen, denoting pot ashes.
The old method of making potassium carbonate (K
2CO
3) was either by collecting or by producing wood ash (the occupation of the ash burner), chemically leaching the ashes and then evaporating the resulting solution in large iron pots, which yielded a white residue denominated "pot ash"; approximately 10% by weight of common wood ash can be recovered as potash.
The term potash later identified minerals that contained potassium salts and the artificial commercial product derived from the salts. The table identifies eight (8) potassium compounds with the term potash in their traditional names:
Most of the world reserves of potassium (K) were deposited as sea water in ancient inland oceans. After the water evaporated, the potassium salts crystallized into beds of potash ore. These are the locations where potash is being mined today. The deposits are a naturally occurring mixture of potassium chloride (KCl; mineral name sylvite) and sodium chloride (NaCl; mineral name halite), more commonly known as table salt. Over time, as the surface of the earth changed, these deposits were covered by thousands of feet of earth.
Potash (especially potassium carbonate) has been used in bleaching textiles, making glass, ceramic, and making soap, since the Bronze Age. Potash was principally obtained by leaching the ashes of wood burned for heating and cooking.
Beginning in the 14th century potash was mined in Ethiopia. One of the world's largest deposits, 140 to 150 million tons, is located in the Dallol area of the Afar Region.
Potash was one of the most important industrial chemicals. It was refined from the ashes of broadleaved trees and produced primarily in the forested areas of Europe, Russia, and North America. Although methods for producing artificial alkalis were invented in the late 18th century, these did not become economical until the late 19th century and so the dependence on organic sources of potash remained.
Recent media