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white semi-transparent crystals

Constituent of Fehling's solution

Potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate is obtained by the follow steps:The starting material is tartar with a minimum tartaric acid content 68 %. This is first dissolved in water or in the mother liquor of a previous batch. It is then basified with hot saturated sodium hydroxide solution to pH 8, decolorized with activated charcoal, and chemically purified before being filtered. The filtrate is evaporated to 42 °Bé at 100 °C, and passed to granulators in which Seignette's salt crystallizes on slow cooling. The salt is separated from the mother liquor by centrifugation, accompanied by washing of the granules.

Potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate might be used as a buffering agent in cosmetic products. It is also used as a food additive. Certain studies show that it produces acute renal toxicity in rabbits and dogs.

Recrystallise it from distilled water (solubility: 0.4mL/g at 100o, 0.7mL/g at 14o). [Beilstein 3 IV 1223.]