Editing Potassium hydroxide (section)

===As a nucleophile in organic chemistry===
KOH, like NaOH, serves as a source of {{chem2|OH-}}, a highly [[nucleophilic]] anion that attacks [[polar bonds]] in both inorganic and organic materials. Aqueous KOH [[saponification|saponifies]] [[ester]]s:
: {{chem2|KOH + RCOOR' -> RCOOK + R'OH}}

When R is a long chain, the product is called a [[potassium soap]]. This reaction is manifested by the "greasy" feel that KOH gives when touched; [[fat]]s on the skin are rapidly converted to soap and [[glycerol]].

Molten KOH is used to displace [[halides]] and other [[leaving group]]s. The reaction is especially useful for [[aromaticity|aromatic]] reagents to give the corresponding [[phenol]]s.<ref>{{OrgSynth|author = W. W. Hartman|title = ''p''-Cresol| collvol = 1|collvolpages = 175|prep = CV1P0175|year = 1923|volume = 3|pages = 37|doi = 10.15227/orgsyn.003.0037}}</ref>