Uses of Potassium Hexacyanoferrate III
- This compound is used as a mild oxidizing agent in organic chemistry.
- It is used in calico printing and wool dyeing.
- It is also used to harden iron and steel.
- It is used as a laboratory reagent and in electroplating.
- Potassium ferricyanide is widely used in photography and blueprint drawing.
- It is used to formulate Murakami’s etchant, which is used by metallographers. Murakami’s etchant is formed when potassium hexacyanoferrate III is mixed with potassium hydroxide (or sodium hydroxide as a substitute) and water.
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.