Potassium ferrocyanide

Synonyms

Ferrate(4-), hexakis(cyano-C)-, tetrapotassium, (OC-6-11)-; Potassium ferrocyanate; Potassium hexacyanoferrate; Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II); Tetrapotassium ferrocyanide; Tetrapotassium hexacyanoferrate; Tetrapotassium hexacyanoferrate(4-); Tetrapotassium hexacyanoferrate(II); [ChemIDplus] Yellow prussiate of potash; Yellow potassium prussiate; [Hawley]

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Yellow odorless powder; Soluble in water; Sensitive to light; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Trihydrate: Used in drying colors, tempering steel, dyeing, making explosives, process engraving, and lithography; [Hawley] Used as a food additive, e.g., in wine, to precipitate trace iron and copper; [Ullmann]

Comments

May cause irritation; [MSDSonline] Practically nontoxic because strong bonding between cyanide and iron; Decomposes slowly producing cyanide ions when irradiated with UV light; [Ullmann] See "CYANIDES."

Biomedical References

LC50 (rat) > 1,000 mg/m3/4h

Other Poison

Chemical Asphyxiant

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Steel Producing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Lithography printing