Monopotassium phosphate
chemical compound
Monopotassium phosphate (MKP) (also, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, KDP, or monobasic potassium phosphate) is the inorganic compound with the formula KH2PO4. Together with dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4.(H2O)x) it is often used as a fertilizer, food additive, and buffering agent. The salt often cocrystallizes with the dipotassium salt as well as with phosphoric acid.
Single crystals are paraelectric at room temperature. At temperatures below −150 °C (−238 °F), they become ferroelectric.
Structure
Monopotassium phosphate can exist in several polymorphs. At room temperature it forms paraelectric crystals with tetragonal symmetry. Upon cooling to −150 °C (−238 °F) it transforms to a ferroelectric phase of orthorhombic symmetry, and the transition temperature shifts up to −50 °C (−58 °F) when hydrogen is replaced by deuterium. Heating to 190 °C (374 °F) changes its structure to monoclinic. When heated further, MKP decomposes, by loss of water, to potassium metaphosphate, KPO3, at 400 °C (752 °F).
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