Potassium hydrogen fluoride

Chemical properties

WHITE TO LIGHT GREY CRYSTALS OR CRYSTALLINE POWDER

The Uses of Potassium hydrogen fluoride

Potassium hydrogen fluoride is widely used as an etchant in glass and cleaning products. It finds an important application in the synthesis of special optical glass viz. crown and crown flint glass and as a catalyst for polymerization. It is involved in the manufacturing of wood preservatives, soldering agents and brazing. It is also used in the manufacturing of organic and inorganic fluorine compounds.

The Uses of Potassium hydrogen fluoride

In the preparation of pure potassium fluoride; as an electrolyte in the manufacture of fluorine; frosting glass; treating coal to prevent slag formation; flux for silver solders; catalyst in the alkylation of benzene with olefins.

General Description

Colorless crystals, corrosive to tissues, etches glass.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble giving strongly acidic solutions.

Reactivity Profile

Acidic salts, such as Potassium hydrogen fluoride, are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible.

Hazard

Corrosive to tissue.

Health Hazard

TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated.

Safety Profile

A poison. Very corrosive and reactive. A corrosive irritant to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of F and K2O. See also FLUORIDES and HYDROFLUORIC ACID.

Purification Methods

It crystallises from water. It is very soluble in hot H2O and 41% at 21o. [Kwasnik in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 237 1963.]