What Is Dipotassium Phosphate?
Dipotassium Phosphate is an inorganic compound which is an extremely water-soluble salt. It is generally used as a fertiliser as it is a great source of potassium and phosphorus. It is also used as a food additive as a good source for potassium and phosphorus. It also finds its application as a buffering agent. Buffering agents are used to maintain the pH value of a solution near a particular chosen value. It is added during a chemical process so as to reduce the rapid change in the composition of the compound when acids or bases are added to it. There are different types of acid and base buffers like acetic acid, sodium acetate, sodium bicarbonate etc.
Structure of Dipotassium Phosphate
The molecular formula or the dipotassium phosphate formula is: K2HPO4
The K2HPO4 name is also known as dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate, potassium phosphate dibasic.
The picture below depicts the K2HPO4 structure: -
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Characteristics of Dipotassium Phosphate
The IUPAC name of this compound is dipotassium hydrogen phosphate
The density of Dipotassium Phosphate is 2.44g/cm3
The K2HPO4 molecular weight or molar mass is 174.2g/mol
It accepts four hydrogen bonds
The melting point of this compound is greater than 465 °C
The chemical formula of the compound is K2HPO4
It is freely soluble in water
It is insoluble in ethanol
The production of K2HPO4 is done in the process of condensation of phosphoric acid using potassium hydroxide
As a result, Phosphoric acid is manufactured from the rock of phosphate, which is found commonly in several places around the globe.
Physical Properties of Dipotassium Phosphate (K2HPO4)
The Dipotassium Phosphate compound is odourless
The colour of the compound is white
It is a deliquescent solid which means that it tends to absorb moisture from the air and dissolve in it
It is a three covalently bonded unit
The molecule of this compound has a heavy atom count of 7
The complexity of the compound is 4605
The compound can be easily soluble in water
Chemical Properties of Dipotassium Phosphate (K2HPO4)
Reaction with hydrochloric acid (HCL)
The compound Dipotassium Phosphate when reacts with hydrochloric acid, it forms potassium chloride and phosphoric acid. The chemical equation of the reaction is given below: -
K2HPO4 + 2HCl → 2KCl + H3PO4
Reaction with sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
The compound dipotassium hydrogen phosphate when reacts with a base, sodium hydroxide it forms disodium hydrogen phosphate and water.
2NaOH + 3K2HPO4 → 2K3PO4 + 2H2O + Na2HPO4
Uses of Dipotassium Phosphate
Dipotassium phosphate is used in fertilisers. It is used as a component of fertilisers because of its highly water-soluble nature. It supplies the growing plants with a large percentage of phosphorus.
It is used as a food additive. The grades of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate used in foods are different than that which are used in fertilisers.
It is added in milk to increase its pH. This is done in order to increase the net micelle charge. Micelles are aggregates of molecules.
It is used in the micelles as a competitive displacement of calcium by sodium.
Example Questions
Q1) Why is the Role of Phosphorus in Our Body?
Phosphorus is quite responsible for enhancing the preservation, repair and restoration of healthy bones and teeth in your body. Phosphate is essential in their normal function in the context of muscular performance, and how effectively they contract.
Q2) Which Foods Contain Disodium Phosphate?
Disodium phosphate is often used in food products, macaroni and pasta included. It is also used as an emulsifier in some cheeses. It can also be used in animal products, meat, canned sauces, Jell-O, milk evaporated and some chocolate.
Q3) What is the Role of Disodium Phosphate When it is Used as a Preservative?
Dipotassium Phosphate (DKP) is an effective buffering agent for a range of balancing agent-functioning uses. Dipotassium Phosphate is highly effective in preventing coagulation when used as a food additive or preservative and is generally used as a buffering agent on the non-dairy creamer market.
FAQs on Dipotassium Phosphate
1. Is Dipotassium Phosphate Bad for the Health of Human Beings?
The Environmental Working Group says the additive can be considered healthy. It is not considered a toxin for the environment or is potentially harmful to humans. Disodium phosphate is also not bio-accumulative, which means that a substance that already accumulates over time within someone’s body.
Due to its use as a food additive, you will also find dipotassium phosphate, or one of its many aliases, on health supplements and in shop packaging. It is used in food to lower acid levels in processed goods, and also to lower sodium levels in cheeses with low sodium content. In non-dairy creamers, it is often used as a stabiliser to avoid coagulation.
2. What are the Benefits of Taking Dipotassium Phosphate?
A balanced potassium intake decreases the risk of stroke, lowers the blood pressure, protects you against muscle mass loss. It helps to maintain bone mineral density and lower the risk of stones in the kidneys. Weightlifters, bodybuilders, and fitness-minded people would benefit from dipotassium phosphate as they can have it as an energy supplement after or before workouts.
Supplementation with Dipotassium Phosphate is beneficial in supporting muscle recovery. As a result, increasing your fitness skills means you will be able to recover more easily between bursting energy usage, having the potential to indulge in more lifts during bodybuilding.
3. What are the Side Effects of Taking Dipotassium Phosphate?
Although dipotassium phosphate is considered a safe supplement, some known side effects have been associated mostly with prolonged usage. This is because using the supplement will induce an imbalance in the phosphates in your body over a longer period of time, resulting in the following side effects such as a headache, Constipation, Arterial stiffening, Confusion, Hyperphosphatemia, Nausea, Dizziness, Vomiting, Diarrhoea and Phosphorus overload.
