Potassium bitartrate

Potassium bitartrate was first characterized by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742–1786).{{Cite web |title=Karl Wilhelm Scheele, Swedish chemist (1742-86) |url=https://www.1902encyclopedia.com/S/SCH/karl-wilhelm-scheele.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=www.1902encyclopedia.com}} This was a result of Scheele's work studying fluorite and hydrofluoric acid.{{Citation |last=Lennartson |first=Anders |title=The Chemical Works of Carl Wilhelm Scheele |series=SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science |date=2017 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58181-1 |editor-last=Lennartson |editor-first=Anders |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-58181-1 |isbn=978-3-319-58181-1 |access-date=2022-12-05|url-access=subscription }}

Scheele may have been the first scientist to publish work on potassium bitartrate, but use of potassium bitartrate has been reported to date back 7000 years to an ancient village in northern Iran.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-19 |title=Cream Of Tartar: What Is It, Anyway? |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cream-of-tar-tar_n_2322569 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} Modern applications of cream of tartar started in 1768 after it gained popularity when the French started using it regularly in their cuisine.

In 2021, a connection between potassium bitartrate and canine and feline toxicity of grapes was first proposed.{{cite journal |last1=Wegenast |first1=Colette |last2=Meadows |first2=Irina |last3=Anderson |first3=Rachele |last4=Southard |first4=Teresa |title=Letters: Unique sensitivity of dogs to tartaric acid and implications for toxicity of grapes |journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |date=1 April 2021 |volume=258 |issue=7 |pages=706–707 |doi=10.2460/javma.258.7.704 |pmid=33754816 |url=https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/258/7/javma.258.7.704.xml |access-date=29 January 2024|url-access=subscription }} Since then, it has been deemed likely as the source of grape and raisin toxicity to pets.{{cite journal |last1=Wegenast |first1=Colette |last2=Meadows |first2=Irina |last3=Anderson |first3=Rachele |last4=Southard |first4=Teresa |last5=González Barrientos |first5=Cristy |last6=Wismer |first6=Tina |title=Acute kidney injury in dogs following ingestion of cream of tartar and tamarinds and the connection to tartaric acid as the proposed toxic principle in grapes and raisins |journal=Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care |date=23 July 2022 |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=812–816 |doi=10.1111/vec.13234 |pmid=35869755 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vec.13234 |access-date=29 January 2024|url-access=subscription }}

File:Bitartrato de potasio 01.JPG

Potassium bitartrate is naturally formed in grapes from the acid dissociation of tartaric acid into bitartrate and tartrate ions.{{Cite journal |last1=Coulter |first1=A.D. |last2=Holdstock |first2=M.G. |last3=Cowey |first3=G.D. |last4=Simos |first4=C.A. |last5=Smith |first5=P.A. |last6=Wilkes |first6=E.N. |date=2015 |title=Potassium bitartrate crystallisation in wine and its inhibition: Cold stability |journal=Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research |language=en |volume=21 |pages=627–641 |doi=10.1111/ajgw.12194|doi-access=free }}

Potassium bitartrate has a low solubility in water. It crystallizes in wine casks during the fermentation of grape juice, and can precipitate out of wine in bottles. The rate of potassium bitartrate precipitation depends on the rates of nuclei formation and crystal growth, which varies based on a wine's alcohol, sugar, and extract content.{{Cite journal |last1=Marsh |first1=G. L. |last2=Joslyn |first2=M. A. |date=1935 |title=Precipitation Rate of Cream of Tartar from Wine Effect of Temperature |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie50311a007 |journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry |language=en |volume=27 |issue=11 |pages=1252–1257 |doi=10.1021/ie50311a007 |issn=0019-7866|url-access=subscription }} The crystals (wine diamonds) will often form on the underside of a cork in wine-filled bottles that have been stored at temperatures below {{convert|10|°C}}, and will seldom, if ever, dissolve naturally into the wine. Over time, crystal formation is less likely to occur due to the decreasing supersaturation of potassium bitartrate, with the greatest amount of precipitation occurring in the initial few days of cooling.

Historically, it was known as beeswing for its resemblance to the sheen of bees' wings. It was collected and purified to produce the white, odorless, acidic powder used for many culinary and other household purposes.

These crystals also precipitate out of fresh grape juice that has been chilled or allowed to stand for some time.{{cite web |author=Max Williams at McNicol Williams Management & Marketing Services |url=http://www.lloydsvineyard.com.au/faqs.php |title=Lloyds Vineyard FAQs |publisher=Lloydsvineyard.com.au |access-date=2018-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215030948/http://www.lloydsvineyard.com.au/faqs.php |archive-date=15 December 2011 |url-status=dead }} To prevent crystals from forming in homemade grape jam or jelly, the prerequisite fresh grape juice should be chilled overnight to promote crystallization. The potassium bitartrate crystals are removed by filtering through two layers of cheesecloth. The filtered juice may then be made into jam or jelly.{{cite web|url=http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_07/grape_jelly_powder.html |title=National Center for Home Food Preservation |publisher=Uga.edu |access-date=2018-04-19}} In some cases they adhere to the side of the chilled container, making filtering unnecessary.

The presence of crystals is less prevalent in red wines than in white wines. This is because red wines have a higher amount of tannin and colouring matter present as well as a higher sugar and extract content than white wines. Various methods such as promoting crystallization and filtering, removing the active species required for potassium bitartrate precipitation, and adding additives have been implemented to reduce the presence of potassium bitartrate crystals in wine.

{{Cookbook|Cream of Tartar}}File:Folgers Cream Tartar etc.jpg

In food, potassium bitartrate is used for:

• Stabilizing egg whites, increasing their warmth-tolerance and volume{{cite book |title=The science of good cooking : master 50 simple concepts to enjoy a lifetime of success in the kitchen |date=2012 |publisher=America's Test Kitchen |isbn=978-1-933615-98-1 |page=199 |edition=1st}}
• Stabilizing whipped cream, maintaining its texture and volume{{cite web |title=How to Use Cream of Tartar |url=https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Cream-of-Tartar |website=wikiHow |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528110909/https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Cream-of-Tartar |url-status=dead }}
• Anti-caking and thickening{{cite web |last1=Stephens |first1=Emily |title=The Incredible Cream of Tartar – How to Use and What to Substitute With |url=https://www.mygreatrecipes.com/blog/incredible-cream-tartar-use-substitute/ |website=MyGreatRecipes |access-date=28 May 2019 |date=18 February 2017}}
• Preventing sugar syrups from crystallizing by causing some of the sucrose to break down into glucose and fructose{{cite book |last1=Provost |first1=Joseph J. |last2=Colabroy |first2=Keri L. |last3=Kelly |first3=Brenda S. |last4=Wallert |first4=Mark A. |title=The Science of Cooking : Understanding the Biology and Chemistry Behind Food and Cooking |date=2016 |publisher=John Wiley and Sons, Inc. |isbn=9781118674208 |page=504 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ydECwAAQBAJ&pg=PA503}}
• Reducing discoloration of boiled vegetables

Additionally, it is used as a component of:

• Baking powder, as an acid ingredient to activate baking soda{{cite book |last1=McGee |first1=Harold |title=On food and cooking : the science and lore of the kitchen |date=2004 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=978-0-684-80001-1 |page=533,534 |edition=2nd}}
• Salt substitutes, in combination with potassium chloride

A similar acid salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate, can be confused with cream of tartar because of its common function as a component of baking powder.

Adding cream of tartar to egg whites gives volume to cakes, and makes them more tender.{{Cite journal |last1=Oldham |first1=A. M. |last2=Mccomber |first2=D. R. |last3=Cox |first3=D. F. |date=2000-12-01 |title=Effect of Cream of Tartar Level and Egg White Temperature on Angel Food Cake Quality |url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1177/1077727X00292003 |journal=Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal |language=en |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=111–124 |doi=10.1177/1077727X00292003 |issn=1077-727X|url-access=subscription }} As cream of tartar is added, the pH decreases to around the isoelectric point of the foaming proteins in egg whites. Foaming properties of egg whites are optimal at this pH due to increased protein-protein interactions.{{Cite journal |last1=Waniska |first1=R. D. |last2=Kinsella |first2=J. E. |title=Foaming Properties of Proteins: Evaluation of a Column Aeration Apparatus Using Ovalbumin |date=1979 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1979.tb06447.x |journal=Journal of Food Science |language=en |volume=44 |issue=5 |pages=1398–1402 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2621.1979.tb06447.x |issn=0022-1147|url-access=subscription }} The low pH also results in a whiter crumb in cakes due to flour pigments that respond to these pH changes. However, adding too much cream of tartar (>2.4% weight of egg white) can affect the texture and taste of cakes. The optimal cream of tartar concentration to increase volume and the whiteness of interior crumbs without making the cake too tender, is about 1/4 tsp per egg white.

As an acid, cream of tartar with heat reduces sugar crystallization in invert syrups by helping to break down sucrose into its monomer components - fructose and glucose in equal parts.{{Cite book |last=Figoni |first=Paula |title=How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science |publisher=JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC |year=2007 |isbn=9780471747239 |edition=2nd}} Preventing the formation of sugar crystals makes the syrup have a non-grainy texture, shinier and less prone to break and dry. However, a downside of relying on cream of tartar to thin out crystalline sugar confections (like fudge) is that it can be hard to add the right amount of acid to get the desired consistency.

Cream of tartar is used as a type of acid salt that is crucial in baking powder. Upon dissolving in batter or dough, the tartaric acid that is released reacts with baking soda to form carbon dioxide that is used for leavening. Since cream of tartar is fast-acting, it releases over 70 percent of carbon dioxide gas during mixing.

File:Potassium hydrogen tartrate (1).JPG

Potassium bitartrate can be mixed with an acidic liquid, such as lemon juice or white vinegar, to make a paste-like cleaning agent for metals, such as brass, aluminium, or copper, or with water for other cleaning applications, such as removing light stains from porcelain.{{cite web|url=http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4/01500631.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623085023/http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4/01500631.html/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-06-23 |title=Michigan State University Extension Home Maintenance And Repair – Homemade Cleaners – 01500631, 06/24/03 |access-date=2018-04-19}}

This mixture is sometimes mistakenly made with vinegar and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which actually react to neutralize each other, creating carbon dioxide and a sodium acetate solution.

Cream of tartar was often used in traditional dyeing where the complexing action of the tartrate ions was used to adjust the solubility and hydrolysis of mordant salts such as tin chloride and alum.

Cream of tartar, when mixed into a paste with hydrogen peroxide, can be used to clean rust from some hand tools, notably hand files. The paste is applied, left to set for a few hours, and then washed off with a baking soda/water solution. After another rinse with water and thorough drying, a thin application of oil will protect the file from further rusting.

Slowing the set time of plaster of Paris products (most widely used in gypsum plaster wall work and artwork casting) is typically achieved by the simple introduction of almost any acid diluted into the mixing water. A commercial retardant premix additive sold by USG to trade interior plasterers includes at least 40% potassium bitartrate. The remaining ingredients are the same plaster of Paris and quartz-silica aggregate already prominent in the main product. This means that the only active ingredient is the cream of tartar.{{cite web|title=Material Safety Data Sheet: Gypsum Plaster Retarder for Lime-Based Products|url=https://www.usg.com/content/dam/USG_Marketing_Communications/canada/product_promotional_materials/finished_assets/gypsum-plaster-retarder-lime-based-products-en-can-53100112.pdf|publisher=USG Inc.|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829063803/https://www.usg.com/content/dam/USG_Marketing_Communications/canada/product_promotional_materials/finished_assets/gypsum-plaster-retarder-lime-based-products-en-can-53100112.pdf|archive-date=29 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

For dyeing hair, potassium bitartrate can be mixed with henna as the mild acid needed to activate the henna.

Cream of tartar has been used internally as a purgative, but this is dangerous because an excess of potassium, or hyperkalemia, may occur.{{cite journal | journal = Journal of Medical Toxicology | date = 2013 | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | pages = 79–81 | doi = 10.1007/s13181-012-0255-x | pmc = 3570668 | pmid=22926733 | title = Life-Threatening Hyperkalemia from Cream of Tartar Ingestion | first1 = Daniel E. | last1 = Rusyniak | first2 = Pamela J. | last2 = Durant | first3 = James B. | last3 = Mowry | first4 = Jo A. | last4 = Johnson | first5 = Jayne A. | last5 = Sanftleben | first6 = Joanne M. | last6 = Smith}}{{Cite journal |last1=Rusyniak |first1=Daniel E. |last2=Durant |first2=Pamela J. |last3=Mowry |first3=James B. |last4=Johnson |first4=Jo A. |last5=Sanftleben |first5=Jayne A. |last6=Smith |first6=Joanne M. |date=March 2013 |title=Life-threatening hyperkalemia from cream of tartar ingestion |journal=Journal of Medical Toxicology|volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=79–81 |doi=10.1007/s13181-012-0255-x |issn=1937-6995 |pmc=3570668 |pmid=22926733}}

Potassium bitartrate is the United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology's primary reference standard for a pH buffer. Using an excess of the salt in water, a saturated solution is created with a pH of 3.557 at {{convert|25|°C}}. Upon dissolution in water, potassium bitartrate will dissociate into acid tartrate, tartrate, and potassium ions. Thus, a saturated solution creates a buffer with standard pH. Before use as a standard, it is recommended that the solution be filtered or decanted between {{convert|22|°C}} and {{convert|28|°C}}.{{citation|last=Harris|first=Daniel C.|title=Quantitative Chemical Analysis|edition=7th|publisher=W. H. Freeman|place=New York|date=17 July 2006|isbn=978-0-7167-7694-9}}

Potassium carbonate can be made by burning cream of tartar, which produces "pearl ash". This process is now obsolete but produced a higher quality (reasonable purity) than "potash" extracted from wood or other plant ashes.

In wine lees, tartaric acid mostly appears as potassium bitartrate (which barely dissolves) and, to a lesser extent, calcium tartrate, all mixed with dead yeast and other solids. Traditionally, you dry and grind the lees, dissolve the potassium bitartrate in hot water (around 70°C), filter out any solids, and then add calcium salts or lime to precipitate it as calcium tartrate.{{Cite journal |last1=Kontogiannopoulos |first1=Konstantinos N. |last2=Patsios |first2=Sotiris I. |last3=Karabelas |first3=Anastasios J. |date=2016-06-13 |title=Tartaric acid recovery from winery lees using cation exchange resin: Optimization by Response Surface Methodology |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383586616301459 |journal=Separation and Purification Technology |volume=165 |pages=32–41 |doi=10.1016/j.seppur.2016.03.040 |issn=1383-5866|url-access=subscription }}

{{Expand section|date=August 2019}}

• Tartrate
• Tartaric acid
• Potassium tartrate (K₂C₄H₄O₆)
• Potassium bicarbonate

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.monashscientific.com.au/PotassiumBitartrate.htm Description of Potassium Bitartrate at Monash Scientific]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141026125201/http://static.fishersci.com/cmsassets/downloads/segment/ScienceEducation/pdf/Chemicals/MSDS/S25477_BP6000.pdf Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Potassium Bitartrate at Fisher Scientific]

{{Potassium compounds}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potassium Bitartrate}}

Category:Acid salts

Category:Potassium compounds

Category:Tartrates

Category:Leavening agents

Category:Edible thickening agents