Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II Formula - Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II consists of elements Potassium, Iron, Carbon, and Nitrogen. Potassium is a silvery-white soft metal present in group 1 of the periodic table. Its atomic number is 19 and is represented by the symbol K. Iron is a metal present in group 8 of the periodic table. It is one of the most common elements found on earth. Its atomic number is 26 and is represented by the symbol Fe. Carbon is a nonmetal present in group 14 of the periodic table. Its atomic number is 6 and is represented by the symbol C. Nitrogen is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas and the most plentiful element in Earth's atmosphere. It is present in group 15 of the periodic table and is represented with the symbol N.

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is an inorganic, yellow crystalline salt with the chemical formula K₄[Fe(CN)₆]. It is produced from hydrogen cyanide, ferrous chloride, and calcium hydroxide. Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is used in making iron blue pigments. Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is also used in Food, Pharmaceutical industries for coloring purposes. It is manufactured by passing chlorine through a solution of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II and it gets separated from the solution. The other name for Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is Potassium ferrocyanide, a yellow prussiate of potash.

Preparation of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is prepared by the combination of hydrogen cyanide, ferrous chloride, and calcium hydroxide compounds. The combined solution is then treated with potassium salts to precipitate the mixed calcium potassium salt, which in turn is treated with potassium carbonate to give tetra potassium salt.

Structure of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II

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Physical Properties of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II

• The appearance of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is Light yellow crystalline granules.
• Molecular weight of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is 368.35 g/mol.
• It is soluble in water.
• The density of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is 1.85 g/cm³.
• Melting point of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is 69   71 °C.
• Boiling point of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is 400 °C.

Chemical Properties of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II

• Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II reacts with sulphuric acid to produce potassium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, ammonium sulfate, and carbon monoxide.

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] + 6H₂SO₄ + 6H₂O ⇢ 2K₂SO₄ + FeSO₄ + 3(NH₄)₂SO₄ + 6CO

• Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II then reacts with ferric chloride to form a complex compound of Iron (III) potassium Hexacyanidoferrate (II) and potassium chloride.

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] + FeCl₃ ⇢ KFe[Fe(CN)₆] + 3KCl

• Potassium cyanide is prepared by decomposing the Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II. The chemical reaction is given below-

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] ⇢  4KCN + FeC₂ + N₂

• Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II reacts with copper sulfate to produce Cupricferrocyanide and potassium sulfate.

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] + 2CuSO₄ ⇢ Cu₂[Fe(CN)₆] + K₂SO₄

Uses of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II

• Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is used as fertilizer in agriculture.
• It is used as an oxidant for catalyst regeneration in dihydroxylations.
• Potassium ferrocyanide is an anticaking agent for both road salt and table salt.
• It is used in electroplating.
• Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is used in the production of wine and citric acid.
• In organic chemistry, it is used as an oxidizing agent.
• It is used in the separation of copper from molybdenum ore.

Sample Questions

Question 1: What happens when Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II reacts with copper sulfate?

Answer:

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II reacts with copper sulfate to produce Cupricferrocyanide and potassium sulfate. The chemical reaction is specified below 

K₄[Fe(CN)₆] + 2CuSO₄ ⇢ Cu₂[Fe(CN)₆] + K₂SO₄

Question 2: Find the molecular weight of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II?

Answer:

The molecular formula of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is K₄[Fe(CN)₆]

The atomic weight of each Potassium atom = 39.0983 

Atomic weight of Iron = 55.845 

Atomic Weight of each carbon atom = 12.011 

Atomic weight of each Nitrogen atom = 14.0067

Molar mass = (4 × 39.0983) + 55.845 + (6 × 12.011) + (6 × 14.0067)

=368.35

Question 3: Is Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II soluble in water?

Answer:

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is soluble in water and the solubility of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II increases with increase in tgmperature.

Question 4: Is Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II a dangerous compound?

Answer:

The Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is not a toxic compound. But when it is mixed with other chemicals or gets heated with any chemical it become very dangerous.

Question 5: What happens when Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is added to ferric salt solution?

Answer:

When Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is added to ferric salt solution it gives a Prussian blue color complex ferri ferrocyanide.

Question 6: What are the uses of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II?

Answer:

Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is used as fertilizers in agricultural field, in electro plating. It is an oxidation agent and used in preparation of citric acid and wine. Potassium Hexacyanoferrate II is used in separation of copper from molybdenum ore.