Potassium bitartrate is an organic potassium salt of L-tartaric acid.
Definition
Potassium bitartrate is an organic potassium salt of L-tartaric acid. It is a by-product of winemaking and occurs naturally in grapes, the major fruit used to produce wine. It has a role as an antimicrobial agent, a laxative, a food acidity regulator, a plant metabolite, a food anticaking agent, a food stabiliser, a food humectant and a raising agent. It contains a L-tartrate(1-).
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII NPT6P8P3UU · registered name Potassium Bitartrate · single chemical substance
Potassium Bitartrate is the organic compound
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name 酒石酸水素Ｋ: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 868-14-4
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 212-769-1
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID6042313
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID4022313
- IUPAC
- Potassium (2R,3R)-3-carboxy-2,3-dihydroxypropanoate
- Molecular formula
- C4H5KO6
- Molecular weight
- 188.176 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- White crystalline or granulated powder · Colorless or white solid, [Merck Index] White powder, [MSDSonline]
- Solubility
- Partially soluble · 1 G DISSOLVES IN 162 ML WATER, IN 16 ML BOILING WATER, IN 8820 ML ALCOHOL, READILY SOL IN DILUTED MINERAL ACIDS, SOL IN SOLN OF ALKALIES OR BORAX, IN WATER APPROX 0.4% @ 10 °C TO 6% @ 100 °C
- Density
- 1.984 @ 18 °C · 1.954 @25 °C
- pH
- 3,4 (1 % aqueous solution)
- Flash point
- 209.4 ℃
- Water solubility
- 582 g/ℓ (20℃)
- Vapour density
- 1.954 g/㎤ (25℃)
- Molecular weight
- 188.18
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 11 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Flavouring and nutrient3
- Chemical reaction regulator3
- pH regulating agent2
- Pharmaceutical (EPA)2
- Emulsifier1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
Linked databases 16
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata