Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate

KHC₄H₄O₆

IUPAC: Potassium hydrogen tartrate

CAS: 868-14-4

Overview

Cream of tartar is a byproduct of winemaking that crystallizes inside wine barrels. It is used in baking as a leavening acid and to stabilize egg whites.

Composition

Element Symbol Atoms Atomic Mass
Hydrogen H 4 1.0080
Carbon C 4 12.0110
Oxygen O 6 15.9990
Potassium K 1 39.0980

Elemental Composition

H
Hydrogen ×4
2.1%
C
Carbon ×4
25.5%
O
Oxygen ×6
51.0%
K
Potassium ×1
20.8%

Uses

  • • Baking leavening acid
  • • Egg white stabilizer
  • • Snickerdoodle cookie ingredient
  • • Metal cleaning

Fun Facts

  • ✦ Forms naturally as crystals inside wine barrels during aging

Structure

SMILES

C(C(C(=O)[O-])O)(C(=O)O)O.[K+]

Properties

Type
salt
State
solid
Molar Mass
188.18 g/mol
Density
1.9840 g/cm³
Solubility
5.7 g/L at 20°C

Molecular Descriptors

Exact Mass
187.9723
TPSA
118.0 Ų
H-Bond Donors
3
H-Bond Acceptors
6
Rotatable Bonds
3
Heavy Atoms
11
Complexity
157.0

Related Compounds

Ammonium Bicarbonate

NH₄HCO₃

Ammonium Chloride

NH₄Cl

Ammonium Sulfate

(NH₄)₂SO₄

Barium Carbonate

BaCO₃

Barium Chloride

BaCl₂

Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

Cadmium Sulfide

CdS

Calcium Acetate

Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂

Calcium Carbonate

CaCO₃

Calcium Citrate

Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate?
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate (KHC₄H₄O₆) is a salt compound with the IUPAC name Potassium hydrogen tartrate.
What is the molecular weight of Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate?
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate has a molar mass of 188.18 g/mol.
What state is Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate at room temperature?
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate is a solid at room temperature.
Is Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate organic or inorganic?
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate is classified as an inorganic compound.
What elements make up Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate?
Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate (KHC₄H₄O₆) is composed of Hydrogen (H), Carbon (C), Oxygen (O), Potassium (K).