Potassium bicarbonate dry chemical fire extinguishers, as the principal component of the Purple-K dry chemical, and in some applications of condensed aerosol fire suppression. It is the only dry chemical fire suppression agent recognized by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association for firefighting at airport crash rescue sites. It is about twice as effective in fire suppression as sodium bicarbonate. Potassium bicarbonate is an effective fungicide against powdery mildew and apple scab, allowed for use in organic farming. Potassium bicarbonate has widespread use in crops, especially for neutralizing acidic soil. The word "saleratus", from Latin "sal æratus" meaning "aerated salt", was widely
Potassium bromate use in 2005, claiming they had new production methods to reduce the amount of the chemical which remained in the final product. Potassium bromate Potassium bromate (KBrO), is a bromate of potassium and takes the form of white crystals or powder. It is a strong oxidizing agent. Potassium bromate is produced when bromine is passed through a hot solution of potassium hydroxide. This first forms unstable potassium hypobromite, which quickly disproportionates into bromide and bromate: Electrolysis of potassium bromide solutions will also give bromate. Both processes are analogous to those used in the production of chlorates. Potassium bromate is readily