Question

Clear the misconception of Potassium carbonate can be prepared by the Solvay Process.
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Answer 1

Potassium carbonate can be prepared by the Solvay Process. No

The textbook says that Sodium carbonate can be prepared by the Solvay process.

And it is natural to take this idea and assume that potassium carbonate can also be prepared by the Solvay process as they are both alkali metal carbonates. But this is a misconception.

NaHCO3 is only sparingly soluble in water. So, when CO2 is passed through ammoniated brine, NaHCO3 gets precipitated out and can be converted to Na2CO3 by decomposition.

Now, KHCO3 being highly soluble in water, does not precipitate out when CO2 is passes through an ammoniated solution of potassium chloride and so, can not be precipitated. And therefore, we can not prepare K2CO3 by the Solvay process.

Answer 2

Answer:

Potassium carbonate cannot be prepared by the Solvay-ammonia process like sodium carbonate . This is because unlike which is sparinglly soluble in water , is fairly soluble in water . When is passed through ammoniated brine, gets precipitated but does not get precipitated when is passed through an ammoniated solution of potassium chloride. Therefore ,cannot be prepared by the Solvay ammonia process .