Alkali Question

[Steve Hamley]

Folks,

Are potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate equal alkalies on a per gram basis (other than solubility in water)? In other words, if I added a gram of sodium carbonate to a liter of water, would the pH be the same as adding a gram of potassium carbonate to a liter of water?

Thanks, Steve

[Merg Ross]

Folks,

Are potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate equal alkalies on a per gram basis (other than solubility in water)? In other words, if I added a gram of sodium carbonate to a liter of water, would the pH be the same as adding a gram of potassium carbonate to a liter of water?

Thanks, Steve

Steve, per The Darkroom Cookbook: Potassium carbonate can be substituted for Sodium carbonate as an alkali accelerator. Thirteen parts by weight are equal to 10 parts by weight of Sodium carbonate. To sustitute Potassium carbonate (anhydrous) multiply the amount of Sodium carbonate (monohydrated) by 0.90.

Hope this helps.

[Steve Hamley]

Thanks Merg, That's it! I never think to look in the DC for some reason.

Cheers, Steve