How to Use potassium hydroxide in a Sentence

potassium hydroxide

noun
  • One of the trucks involved in the crash was carrying potassium hydroxide.
    Hannah K. Sparling, The Enquirer, 17 Nov. 2020
  • The air is pushed through a plastic mesh coated with a potassium hydroxide solution, which binds with the carbon dioxide.
    IEEE Spectrum, 6 Jan. 2021
  • Using heat, water and a strong base — potassium hydroxide, in this case — a body can be dissolved into liquid and bone in a matter of hours.
    John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2019
  • The tank fills with water, and a few scoops of potassium hydroxide and sodium are added (amounts depend on how hard or soft your water is, as well as your elevation).
    Melissa Davis, The Seattle Times, 31 Aug. 2017
  • In a rotating planetary ball mill, graphite flakes were mixed with potassium hydroxide and glycine, a simple amino acid found in living organisms.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 Dec. 2025
  • Cleaners that contain sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide are even worse.
    Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023
  • It was powered on two 36-volt silver-zinc potassium hydroxide non-rechargeable batteries.
    David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 12 Mar. 2019
  • The natural oils are then mixed with either potassium hydroxide to create a liquid soap or sodium hydroxide to create a solid soap.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
  • The natural oils are then mixed with either potassium hydroxide to create a liquid soap or sodium hydroxide to create a solid soap.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Officials said the potassium hydroxide probably contributed to the heat and duration of the fire.
    Hannah K. Sparling, The Enquirer, 17 Nov. 2020
  • For example, an alkaline battery, or cell, contains zinc, manganese dioxide, and potassium hydroxide.
    Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2022
  • There’s a good chance the corrosive chemical (usually potassium hydroxide) that seeped out has damaged the battery terminals.
    WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
  • Alkaline hydrolysis The body is placed inside a pressure vessel which is filled with water and potassium hydroxide and heated.
    Erica Lamberg, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2020
  • This produces potassium hydroxide, which is recycled back to the contactor, and pellets of calcium carbonate.
    The Economist, 7 June 2018
  • Tysver said several cars involved in the derailment were carrying hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and asphalt.
    Washington Post, 17 May 2021
  • The Brent Spence Bridge closed Wednesday after a crash and fire involving a truck hauling potassium hydroxide and an unknown amount of diesel fuel.
    Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 17 Nov. 2020
  • Finally, the resultant structure was coated in potassium hydroxide, which washes away less stable structures and leaves behind thousands of microscopic pores.
    Michael Franco, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2024
  • In their device, two electrodes, separated by a thin film that keeps oxygen and hydrogen apart, are immersed in a concentrated potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution.
    IEEE Spectrum, 14 Dec. 2022
  • Natural burials have grown in popularity, as has resomation, where bodies are dissolved in water and potassium hydroxide.
    William Ralston, Wired, 26 July 2022
  • To make the water able to better conduct ions that move through the devices, today’s most common electrolyzers add high levels of potassium hydroxide (KOH) to the water.
    Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 10 Mar. 2020
  • Once assembled, the device used two carbon electrodes separated by the PET film and submerged in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Alkaline hydrolysis involves placing a body in a chamber that is then filled with water and potassium hydroxide and heated to about 320 degrees F at high pressure.
    Caren Chesler, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2018
  • First, air is channelled by fans onto a honeycombed plastic slab called a contactor, where CO2, which is acidic, reacts with aqueous potassium hydroxide, which is alkaline.
    The Economist, 7 June 2018
  • Alkaline hydrolysis involves placing a body in a chamber that is then filled with water and potassium hydroxide and heated up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit at high pressure.
    Caren Chesler, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2018
  • Two years ago, California legalized a green alternative to cremation using water and potassium hydroxide to dissolve bodies within three hours.
    Collin Blinder, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Emergency crews responded Tuesday after a 300 gallon-spill of potassium hydroxide at the facility.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The electrolyte is typically spiked with potassium hydroxide, which allows the chemical conversions to occur at a lower voltage, thereby boosting the overall energy efficiency.
    Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 24 Feb. 2021
  • Using a main ingredient of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide, chemical relaxers break and restructure the bonds in curly hair so that the hair becomes weaker and straight.
    Ashley Weatherford, The Cut, 15 May 2018
  • The Brent Spence Bridge has been closed to traffic since Wednesday after a vehicle crash and fire involving two semi-trucks, including one hauling potassium hydroxide and an unknown amount of diesel fuel.
    Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 13 Nov. 2020
  • According to Nails magazine, the most common active ingredients found in callus-removing formulas are urea, salicylic acid (which is commonly found in acne treatments) and potassium hydroxide.
    Marci Robin, Good Housekeeping, 7 Nov. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potassium hydroxide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: