David
In a message dated 98-05-14 17:43:13 EDT, silh@iag.net writes:
>
> One other point: oxalic acid is not a "form" of potassium oxalate, oxalic
> acid is the acid which, when combined with potassium becomes potassium
> oxalate. When potassium oxalate is dissolved in water, the compound
> dissociates into potassium ions and oxalate ions; as the potassium has
> higher energy than the oxalate (a weak acid), the potassium hydrolyzes to
> potassium hydroxide, making the solution highly alkaline, and very
> corrosive. At normal temperatures, the process is infinitely reversible. In
> solution, of course, there would be no airborne contamination, but
> potassium oxalate, oxalic acid, and potassium hydroxide are all extremely
> toxic when taken internally.
>