Potassium ferrocyanide is the
inorganic compound
In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...
with formula K
4 6">e(CN)6·3H
2O. It is the potassium salt of the
coordination complex
A coordination complex consists of a central atom or ion, which is usually metallic and is called the ''coordination centre'', and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions, that are in turn known as ''ligands'' or complexing agents. Many ...
6">e(CN)6sup>4−. This salt forms lemon-yellow
monoclinic
In crystallography, the monoclinic crystal system is one of the seven crystal systems. A crystal system is described by three vectors. In the monoclinic system, the crystal is described by vectors of unequal lengths, as in the orthorhombic s ...
crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...
s.
Synthesis
In 1752, the French chemist
Pierre Joseph Macquer
Pierre-Joseph Macquer (9 October 1718 – 15 February 1784) was an influential French people, French chemist.
He is known for his ''Dictionnaire de chymie'' (1766). He was also involved in practical applications, to medicine and industry, such as ...
(1718–1784) first reported the preparation of potassium ferrocyanide, which he achieved by reacting
Prussian blue
Prussian blue (also known as Berlin blue, Brandenburg blue or, in painting, Parisian or Paris blue) is a dark blue pigment produced by oxidation of ferrous ferrocyanide salts. It has the chemical formula Fe CN)">Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyani ...
(iron(III) ferrocyanide) with
potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash.
Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which exp ...
.
Modern production
Potassium ferrocyanide is produced industrially from
hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide, sometimes called prussic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structure . It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is produced on an ...
,
ferrous chloride
Iron(II) chloride, also known as ferrous chloride, is the chemical compound of formula FeCl2. It is a paramagnetic solid with a high melting point. The compound is white, but typical samples are often off-white. FeCl2 crystallizes from water as ...
, and
calcium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide (traditionally called slaked lime) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca( OH)2. It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is produced when quicklime (calcium oxide) is mixed or slaked with water. It has m ...
, the combination of which affords Ca
2 6">e(CN)6·11H
2O. This solution is then treated with potassium salts to precipitate the mixed calcium-potassium salt CaK
2 6">e(CN)6 which in turn is treated with
potassium carbonate
Potassium carbonate is the inorganic compound with the formula K2 CO3. It is a white salt, which is soluble in water. It is deliquescent, often appearing as a damp or wet solid. Potassium carbonate is mainly used in the production of soap and gl ...
to give the tetrapotassium salt.
Historical production
Historically, the compound was manufactured from organic compounds containing nitrogen, iron filings, and potassium carbonate.
Common
nitrogen
Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...
and
carbon
Carbon () is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent
In chemistry, the valence (US spelling) or valency (British spelling) of an element is the measure of its combining capacity with o ...
sources were
torrified horn, leather scrap,
offal
Offal (), also called variety meats, pluck or organ meats, is the organs of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but usually excludes muscle. Offal may also refe ...
, or dried blood. It was also obtained commercially from gasworks spent oxide (purification of city gas from hydrogen cyanide).
Chemical reactions
Treatment of potassium ferrocyanide with
nitric acid
Nitric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but older samples tend to be yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. Most commercially available nitri ...
gives H
2 5">e(NO)(CN)5 After neutralization of this intermediate with
sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate, , (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals) is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield moderately alkaline solutions ...
, red crystals of
sodium nitroprusside
Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), sold under the brand name Nitropress among others, is a medication used to lower blood pressure. This may be done if the blood pressure is very high and resulting in symptoms, in certain types of heart failure, and d ...
can be selectively crystallized.
Upon treatment with
chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate betwee ...
gas, potassium ferrocyanide converts to
potassium ferricyanide
Potassium ferricyanide is the chemical compound with the formula K3 e(CN)6 This bright red salt contains the octahedrally coordinated 3−.html" ;"title="e(CN)6sup>3−">e(CN)6sup>3− ion. It is soluble in water and its solution shows some g ...
:
:2 K
4 6">e(CN)6+ Cl
2 → 2 K
3 6">e(CN)6+ 2 KCl
This reaction can be used to remove potassium ferrocyanide from a solution.
A famous reaction involves treatment with ferric salts to give
Prussian blue
Prussian blue (also known as Berlin blue, Brandenburg blue or, in painting, Parisian or Paris blue) is a dark blue pigment produced by oxidation of ferrous ferrocyanide salts. It has the chemical formula Fe CN)">Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyani ...
. With the composition Fe
CN).html"_;"title="Cyanide.html"_;"title="e(Cyanide">CN)">Cyanide.html"_;"title="e(Cyanide">CN)_this_insoluble_but_deeply_coloured_material_is_the_blue_of_
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_Applications
Potassium_ferrocyanide_finds_many_niche_applications_in_industry.__It_and_Sodium_ferrocyanide.html" ;"title="blueprint.html" ;"title="Cyanide">CN).html" ;"title="Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyanide">CN)">Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyanide">CN) this insoluble but deeply coloured material is the blue of blueprint">Cyanide">CN).html" ;"title="Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyanide">CN)">Cyanide.html" ;"title="e(Cyanide">CN) this insoluble but deeply coloured material is the blue of blueprinting.
Applications
Potassium ferrocyanide finds many niche applications in industry. It and Sodium ferrocyanide">the related sodium salt are widely used as anticaking agents for both road salt and table salt. The potassium and sodium ferrocyanides are also used in the purification of tin and the separation of copper from molybdenum ores. Potassium ferrocyanide is used in the production of wine and citric acid.
[
In the EU, ferrocyanides (E 535–538) were, as of 2017, solely authorised in two food categories as salt additives. The kidneys are the organ for ferrocyanide toxicity.
It can also be used in animal feed.
In the laboratory, potassium ferrocyanide is used to determine the concentration of potassium permanganate, a compound often used in titrations based on redox reactions. Potassium ferrocyanide is used in a mixture with potassium ferricyanide and phosphate buffered solution to provide a buffer for ]beta-galactosidase
β-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23, lactase, beta-gal or β-gal; systematic name β-D-galactoside galactohydrolase), is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing β-D-galactose residues in β-D-galactosides.
β- ...
, which is used to cleave X-Gal
X-gal (also abbreviated BCIG for 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β--galactopyranoside) is an organic compound consisting of galactose linked to a substituted indole. The compound was synthesized by Jerome Horwitz and collaborators in 1964. The formal c ...
, giving a bright blue visualization where an antibody (or other molecule), conjugated to Beta-gal, has bonded to its target. On reacting with Fe(3) it gives a Prussian blue colour. Thus it is used as an identifying reagent for iron in labs.
Potassium ferrocyanide can be used as a fertilizer for plants.
Prior to 1900, before the invention of the Castner process
The Castner process is a process for manufacturing sodium metal by electrolysis of molten sodium hydroxide at approximately 330 °C. Below that temperature, the melt would solidify; above that temperature, the molten sodium would start to dissol ...
, potassium ferrocyanide was the most important source of alkali metal
The alkali metals consist of the chemical elements lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K),The symbols Na and K for sodium and potassium are derived from their Latin names, ''natrium'' and ''kalium''; these are still the origins of the names ...
cyanides
Cyanide is a naturally occurring, rapidly acting, toxic chemical that can exist in many different forms.
In chemistry, a cyanide () is a chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a ...
. In this historical process, potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is a compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline salt, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications includ ...
was produced by decomposing potassium ferrocyanide:
K4 6">e(CN)6→ 4 KCN + FeC2 + N2
Structure
Like other metal cyanides, solid potassium ferrocyanide, both as the hydrate and anhydrous salts, has a complicated polymeric structure. The polymer consists of octahedral 6">e(CN)6sup>4− centers crosslinked with K+ ions that are bound to the CN ligand
In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule (functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's electr ...
s.[Willans, M.J.; Wasylishen, R.E.; McDonald, R. "Polymorphism of potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate as studied by solid-state multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction" Inorganic Chemistry 2009, volume 48, p4342-4353] The K+---NC linkages break when the solid is dissolved in water.
Toxicity
Potassium ferrocyanide is nontoxic, and is not decomposed to cyanide in the body. The toxicity in rats is low, with lethal dose
In toxicology, the lethal dose (LD) is an indication of the lethal toxicity of a given substance or type of radiation. Because resistance varies from one individual to another, the "lethal dose" represents a dose (usually recorded as dose per kilog ...
(LD50) at 6400 mg/kg.
See also
*Ferrocyanide
Ferrocyanide is the name of the anion CN)6">cyanide.html" ;"title="e(cyanide">CN)6sup>4−. Salts of this coordination complex give yellow solutions. It is usually available as the salt potassium ferrocyanide, which has the formula K4Fe(CN)6. e ...
*Potassium ferricyanide
Potassium ferricyanide is the chemical compound with the formula K3 e(CN)6 This bright red salt contains the octahedrally coordinated 3−.html" ;"title="e(CN)6sup>3−">e(CN)6sup>3− ion. It is soluble in water and its solution shows some g ...
*Ferricyanide
Ferricyanide is the anion e(CN)6sup>3−. It is also called hexacyanoferrate(III) and in rare, but systematic nomenclature, hexacyanidoferrate(III). The most common salt of this anion is potassium ferricyanide, a red crystalline material that ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potassium Ferrocyanide
Potassium compounds
Iron(II) compounds
Cyano complexes
Coordination complexes
E-number additives
Nephrotoxins
Iron complexes