Potassium selenate, , is an odorless, white solid that forms as the

potassium Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosph ...

salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...

selenic acid Selenic acid is the inorganic compound with the formula . It is an oxoacid of selenium, and its structure is more accurately described as . It is a colorless compound. Although it has few uses, its derivative sodium selenate is used in the prod ...

Preparation

Potassium selenate is produced by the reaction of selenium trioxide and

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 ...

. : Alternatively, it can be made by treating

selenous acid Selenous acid (or selenious acid) is the chemical compound with the formula . Structurally, it is more accurately described by . It is the principal oxoacid of selenium; the other being selenic acid. Formation and properties Selenous acid is a ...

with potassium hydroxide, followed by oxidization of the resulting potassium selenite with bromine water. : :

Uses

Potassium selenate can be used to produce selenium trioxide. It can also use to treat selenium deficiency in livestock.

References

{{Potassium compounds Potassium compounds Selenates