The corrosive properties of potassium hydroxide make it a useful ingredient in agents and preparations that clean and disinfect surfaces and materials that can themselves resist corrosion by KOH. KOH is also used for semiconductor chip fabrication (for example anisotropic wet etching).
Potassium hydroxide rapidly absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the air and deliquesces. 1 Potassium hydroxide solutions should be stored in plastic bottles (polyethylene or polypropylene). KOH solutions will etch glass over a period of just a few days.
Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is an alkali that penetrates and destroys the skin by dissolving the keratin. It causes an irritant reaction in the skin, dependent upon concentration used and to which body region it is applied.
