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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Potassium hydrogencarbonate is not expected to have an intrinsic toxic activity to aquatic organisms

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Potassium hydrogencarbonate is an alkaline substance, which dissociates completely to form potassium cations (K+) and inorganic carbon species. Depending on pH of the receiving waters CO2 is the predominant species at pH values below 6.35, while HCO3- is the predominant species at a pH in the range between 6.35 and 10.33 and CO32- is the predominant species at pH values above 10.33.

In the majority of the natural waters, pH levels are between 6 and 10. Thus HCO3- (pKa= 10.33) is the most important species for the buffer capacity. Therefore the pH will remain within environmentally expected ranges.