What is "potassium bicarbonate"

n. An odorless, slightly basic substance which is soluble in water and often used to offset acidity.

n. a crystalline salt (KHCO3) that is used in baking powder and as an antacid [syn: potassium acid carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate]

Potassium bicarbonate (also known as potassium hydrogen carbonate or potassium acid carbonate) is a colorless, odorless, slightly basic, salty substance. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), potassium bicarbonate is " generally recognized as safe". There is no evidence of human carcinogenicity, no adverse effects of overexposure, and an undetermined . It is among the food additives encoded by European Union, identified by the initials E 501. Physically, potassium bicarbonate occurs as a crystal or a soft white granular powder. Potassium bicarbonate is very rarely found in its natural form, the mineral called kalicinite.