Carbon dioxide `(CO_2)` is slightly acidic in nature. Hence `KOH`, which is a strong alkali dissolves `CO_2` evolved from the compound containing carbon and reacts with it to form `K_2CO_3`. Increase in the weight of potash bulbs will give the weight of `CO_2` evloved.
`2KOH(aq.)+CO_2(g)rarrK_2CO_3+H_2O(1)`