Health Hazards of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate (III)
- Potassium hexacyanoferrate III is harmful if swallowed or inhaled.
- Potassium hexacyanoferrate III is low toxic but causes mild irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
- Potassium hexacyanoferrate III upon heating emits irritating or toxic fumes.
Potassium Hexacyanoferrate III Formula
Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) is also termed Red prussiate of Potash or Potassium ferricyanide whose chemical formula is K3[Fe(CN)6]. It was discovered by Leopold Gmelin in the year 1822. Potassium Hexacyanoferrate III is composed of potassium, iron, carbon, and nitrogen elements. It appears as deep red crystals, which decompose on heating. This compound contains the octahedrally coordinated [Fe(CN)6]3− ion. It is soluble in water and its solution exhibits slight green-yellow fluorescence. When it reacts with a strong acid, highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas is evolved. It is prepared when chlorine is passed through a solution of potassium ferrocyanide. Potassium ferricyanide is widely used in photography and blueprint drawing. It is also used in calico printing, electroplating, and wool dyeing, as a laboratory reagent, and as an oxidant in organic chemistry. It is used to formulate Murakami’s etchant, which is used by metallographers.
Contact Us