Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in ethanol)which forms a strongly alkaline solution. It can be made as the product of potassium hydroxide's absorbent reaction with carbon dioxide. It is deliquescent, often appearing a damp or wet solid. Potassium carbonate is used in the production of soap and glass.

Applications

*Still used widely in traditional Greek products form soap and glass  production but also in baking.
*(historically) for soap, glass, and china production
*As a mild drying agent where other drying agents, such as calcium chloride   and magnesium sulfate, may be incompatible. It is not suitable for acidic    compounds, but can be useful for drying an organic phase if one has a small   amount of acidic impurity. It may also be used to dry some ketones,   alcohols,  and amines prior to distillation.
*In cuisine, it has many traditional uses. It is an ingredient in the  production of grass jelly, a food consumed in Chinese and Southeast Asian  cuisines, as well as Chinese noodles and moon cake . It is used to tenderize  tripe. German gingerbread recipes often use potassium carbonate as a baking  agent; although in combination with hartshorn. It is however important that  the right quantities are used to prevent harm, and cooks should not use it  without guidance.
*Used in the production of cocoa powder to balance the pH (i.e. reduce the  amount of acidity) of natural cocoa beans (it also helps enhance the aroma).  The process of adding potassium carbonate to cocoa powder is usually called  "Dutching", or Dutch-processed cocoa powder, as the process was first  developed in 1828 by Coenrad Johannes van Houten, a Dutchman.
*As a buffering agent in the production of mead or wine.
*Softening hard water.
*As a fire suppressant in extinguishing deep-fat fryers and various other B  class-related fires
*In condensed aerosol fire suppression, although as the byproduct of  potassium nitrate.
*An ingredient in welding fluxes, and in the flux coating on arc-welding  rods.
*Stability in neurons to help maintain equilibrium.[citation needed]
*As an animal feed ingredient to satisfy the potassium requirements of farmed animals such as broiler breeders