Potassium thiocyanate

Chemical properties

Potassium thiocyanate, KSCN,also known as potassium sulfocyanate and potassium rhodanide, is a colorless deliquescent crystalline solid that melts at 173°C (343 OF) and decomposes at 500°C(932 OF). Soluble in water and alcohol,it has no odor and a saline taste.Potassium thiocyanate is used in printing and dyeing textiles, freezing mixtures, manufacturing chemicals, photography and medicine.

Chemical properties

Potassium thiocyanate, potassium sulfocyanide, potassium sulfocyanate, potassium rhodanate, KCNS, white solid, formed by fusing potassium cyanide and sulfur, and then crystallizing.

Physical properties

Colorless rhombohedral crystals; deliquesces; density 1.886 g/cm³at 15°C;melts at 173.2°C, the color of the fused salt changing from brown to green and then blue; turns white again on cooling; decomposes at about 500°C; very soluble in water, 177 g/100mL at 0°C and 217 g/100mL at 20°C; solution cools upon dissolution; aqueous solution neutral; readily dissolves in acetone and liquid ammonia; moderately soluble in hot alcohol.

The Uses of Potassium thiocyanate

Potassium Thiocyanate has been used as a catalyst in a one-pot reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates with indane-1,3-dione. Potassium Thiocyanate has been used as a selective bacterial inhibitor to create ESS-3 broth to allow co-?enrichment of the target pathogens and suppress growth of some non-?target pathogens

The Uses of Potassium thiocyanate

Analysis of siliver ion; indirect determination of chloride, bromide, and iodide.

The Uses of Potassium thiocyanate

manufacture of artificial mustard oil; printing and dyeing textiles; in photography as intensifier; in analytical chemistry. The sodium salt now is replacing it for most of these uses.

The Uses of Potassium thiocyanate

Used as a source of thiocyanate.

What are the applications of Application

Potassium thiocyanate is a chaotropic agent used for protein crystallization

Definition

ChEBI: A potassium salt which is the monopotassium salt of thiocyanic acid.

Definition

A colorless hygroscopic solid. Its solution is used in a test for iron(III) compounds, with which it turns a blood-red color.

Preparation

Potassium thiocyanate may be made by adding caustic potash to a solution of ammonium thiocyanate, followed by evaporation of the solution. NH₄SCN + KOH →KSCN + NH₄OH
Also, the compound can be prepared by heating potassium cyanide with sulfur:KCN + S →KSCN.

General Description

Potassium thiocyanate is an inorganic potassium salt. Phase transitions in potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) have been investigated by X-ray diffraction studies. The order-disorder type transition with respect to the orientation of the thiocyanate ions was identified. Its polarized infrared spectrum has been reported. It participates in the ring-opening of aziridines. The reaction was carried out in the presence of sulfated zirconia to afford the corresponding β-aminothiocyanates.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Safety Profile

A human poison by ingestion. Poison experimentally by intravenous route. An experimental teratogen. Moderately toxic by subcutaneous and ingestion routes. Large doses can cause slun eruptions, psychoses, and collapse. Incompatible with calcium chlorite and perchloryl fluoride. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of CN-, K2O, SOx, and NOx. See also THIOCYANATES.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from H2O if much chloride ion is present in the salt, otherwise from EtOH or MeOH (optionally by addition of Et2O). Filter off on a Büchner funnel without paper, and dry it in a desiccator at room temperature before heating for 1hour at 150o, with a final 10-20minutes at 200o to remove the last traces of solvent [Kolthoff & Lingane J Am Chem Soc 57 126 1935]. Store it in the dark.