Potassium rhodizonate

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Potassium rhodizonate
Potassium rhodizonate by NurdRage.jpg
Freshly prepared potassium rhodizonate
Names
IUPAC name
Dipotassium 3,4,5,6-tetraoxocyclohexene-1,2-diolate
Other names
5-Cyclohexene-1,2,3,4-tetrone, 5,6-dihydroxy-, dipotassium salt
Dipotassium rhodizonate
Rhodizonic acid dipotassium salt
Properties
C6O6K2
Molar mass 246.257 g/mol
Appearance Black-reddish solid
Melting point >300 °C (572 °F; 573 K) (decomposition)
Boiling point Decomposes
Almost insoluble
Solubility Slightly soluble in glacial acetic acid
Insoluble in isopropanol
Hazards
Safety data sheet Sigma-Aldrich
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds
Rhodizonic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Potassium rhodizonate is a chemical compound, the potassium salt of rhodizonic acid.

Properties

Chemical

Potassium rhodizonate reacts with lead and lead compounds to give the dark purple lead rhodizonate.

Potassium rhodizonate breaks down under alkaline conditions and is only stable at low pH.

Physical

Potassium rhodizonate is a black-reddish solid, poorly soluble in water and organic solvents.

Availability

Potassium rhodizonate is sold by many suppliers.

Preparation

Potassium rhodizonate can be prepared by oxidizing inositol with conc. nitric acid.

In a beaker or round bottom flask add 10 g of inositol and 25 ml of nitric acid 68%. The mixture is refluxed for 3 hours. As this happens, the solution will give off nitrogen dioxide fumes, so make sure you do this outside or in a fume hood. After the reaction has stopped, add water until the volume reaches 100 ml. Then add 50 ml of glacial acetic acid, which will keep the solution acidic, as rhodizonates are unstable in basic conditions. Place the beaker in an ice bath. Slowly then add 40 g of potassium hydroxide. The addition of KOH will cause the solution to heat up and bubble, as well as change color from colorless to black/black-red, which is the potassium rhodizonate precipitating out of the solution. To increase the yield, leave the potassium rhodizonate solution to stir overnight, as dissolved oxygen will oxidize other intermediate reaction products into rhodizonate. The next day, filter the solution through a filter paper and wash the precipitate with 100 ml of isopropanol and then leave the potassium rhodizonate to dry in air.[1]

NurdRage made a video on how to synthesize it.[2]

Projects

  • Testing for lead

Handling

Safety

Potassium rhodizonate is not classified as hazardous and doesn't require special handling.

Storage

In closed bottles, away from light and bases. Solutions are only stable for about 1 hour so they must be used immediately.

Disposal

Potassium rhodizonate doesn't require special disposal. Discard it as you wish.

References

  1. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1942, 64 (1), p. 67–69
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLmycZ2nrt0

Relevant Sciencemadness threads