Definition of Potassium Chloride
- Potassium chloride appears as a white or clear crystalline solid (powder) at room temperature.
- Potassium chloride's chemical formula is KCl (one potassium atom and one chlorine atom). This makes it a halide---a binary compound with one element (potassium) and one halogen atom (the chlorine).
- Potassium chloride appears naturally as the mineral sylvite. It can also be extracted from salt water (brine).
- Potassium chloride is typically used in chemical fertilizers and water softeners. It is also used as a sodium-free table salt, though due to a bitter taste is sometimes mixed with regular salt. It is also used in medicine to replenish potassium in the body.
- Potassium chloride is toxic in excess. Too much can cause gastric distess---cramps, nausea and vomiting---or even cardiac arrest.
- Potassium chloride is one of three chemicals typically used in lethal injections for executions. Sodium theopental knocks the person out, pancurion bromide relaxes the muscles and potassium chloride stops the heart.