What is Potassium Dichromate?
In inorganic chemistry, Potassium Dichromate is majorly used as a chemical reagent in various chemical reactions. It serves as a strong oxidizing agent and is therefore helpful in distinct redox reactions.
- It is a crystalline ionic solid.
- It is odorless and has a bright red-orange color.
- Potassium Dichromate is mainly prepared by chromates which are formed by the reaction of chromite ore with sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.
Potassium Dichromate has a wide variety of applications and is used in the manufacturing of glass, fireworks, ceramics, etc, and can also act as a catalyst for various metal production.
- It is also used in bone marrow biopsies due to its use in Zenker’s acetic fixative.
- Being non-deliquescent in nature, this salt is majorly used in laboratories.
- However, due to its toxic and corrosive nature, Potassium Dichromate can be hazardous to human health if exposed for a longer period therefore, proper care and precautions must be taken while handling it.
Occurrence of Potassium Dichromate
Potassium dichromate is rarely found in nature as Lopezite. It can be found in nitrate deposits of Chile’s Atacama desert and South Africa’s Bushveld igneous complex.
Potassium Dichromate Colour
Potassium dichromate has a very bright red-orange colour. However, it can differ depending upon its pH value. The colour of potassium dichromate in accordance with its pH value is as follows:
- If pH < 7 (Acidic medium), its colour is orange.
- If pH > 7 (Basic medium), its colour is yellow.
Potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7)
Potassium Dichromate is a chemical compound mainly used as an oxidizing agent. The chemical formula of Potassium Dichromate is represented as K2Cr2O7. It is a hexavalent chromium compound having a bright red-orange color. It serves as an oxidizing agent in various industrial and laboratory applications. It is used to manufacture products such as matches, glass, ceramics, etc.
In this article, we will thoroughly study What is Potassium Dichromate, its structure, its preparation, and its wide range of applications.
Table of Content
- What is Potassium Dichromate?
- Formula of Potassium Dichromate
- Structure of Potassium Dichromate
- Molecular Weight of Potassium Dichromate
- Preparation of Potassium Dichromate
- Properties of Potassium Dichromate