KHCO3

Potassium bicarbonate · Potassium hydrogen carbonate, Bicarbonate of potash

Potassium bicarbonate is a stable, insulating inorganic salt frequently used as a leavening agent, fire suppressant, and acidity regulator.

CHKO
Crystal structure of KHCO3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Potassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate is a thermodynamically stable inorganic compound that functions as a wide-gap insulator. Its robust structural integrity is evidenced by its presence on the convex hull, making it a reliable material for various industrial and chemical applications.

Because of its chemical properties, this compound is widely utilized in sectors requiring pH regulation and fire extinguishing capabilities. Its stability ensures it remains a consistent reagent in laboratory settings and food processing environments.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Potassium bicarbonate, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

3.42–5.01 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

12
4 databases, 4 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where Potassium bicarbonate is used.

Fire suppression systemsFood leavening agentpH buffering in chemical synthesisAgricultural soil amendmentPharmaceutical acidity regulator
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Potassium bicarbonate, answered from cross-validated data.

What is KHCO3?

Potassium bicarbonate is a stable, insulating inorganic salt frequently used as a leavening agent, fire suppressant, and acidity regulator.

More questions
What is KHCO3 used for?
Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) is used in fire suppression systems, food leavening agent, pH buffering in chemical synthesis, agricultural soil amendment, and pharmaceutical acidity regulator.
What is the band gap of KHCO3?
Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 3.42–5.01 eV across 12 reported structures.
Is KHCO3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 5.01 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is KHCO3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of KHCO3 are known?
12 structures of KHCO3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 4 distinct space groups.
What elements does KHCO3 contain?
Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) contains C, H, K, and O (4 elements).
Where does the data for KHCO3 come from?
KHCO3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a standalone compound in its class, potassium bicarbonate serves as a fundamental example of stable, insulating bicarbonate salts. Its reliable thermodynamic profile allows it to function effectively in diverse roles ranging from agricultural soil treatment to pharmaceutical buffering, setting a standard for performance in its chemical family.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

Analyze KHCO3 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →