How we scored it
Mineral base: K (mineral counter-ion) + OH from water, both natural; 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Produced by electrolyzing a solution of potassium chloride, a mined or brine-derived mineral salt. No organic or petrochemical building blocks are involved.
In plain English
A strong alkali made from potassium salt through electrolysis. Used in small amounts to adjust pH and, combined with fatty acids, to make soap.
CosIng definition: Potassium Hydroxide is the inorganic base
Structure
potassium hydroxide
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2Potassium Hydroxide. PubChem CID 14797. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20HYDROXIDE