Detection thresholds of potassium salts are related to the molar conductivity of the anion.
In a previous study, we found that human taste detection thresholds for Na+ salts were linearly correlated with molar conductivity values at infinite dilution of their anions. In the present study, detection threshold concentrations for potassium salts were also found to be linearly correlated (r = -0.92) with the molar conductivity of the anion of the salt. Detection thresholds were determined here for nine potassium salts with the same anions as the sodium salts previously tested. The mean detection thresholds for these potassium salts were found to be: K Acetate (0.00311 M), K Carbonate (0.00286 M), K Chloride (0.00242 M), K Citrate (0.000300 M), K Phosphate (0.00196 M), K Sulfate (0.00090 M), K Tartrate (0.00164 M), K Glutamate (0.00153 M), and K Ascorbate (0.00375 M). The rank order correlation between the detection threshold values for sodium and potassium salts was 0.88. This finding suggests that detection thresholds for both Na+ and K+ salts are determined by the charge mobility of the anion.
Schiffman
S S
SS
Department of Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0086, USA.
Manning
M P
MP
Warwick
Z S
ZS
Crumbliss
A L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*
D000838:Anions; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium