Potassium persulfate
| Names | |
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Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.028.893 |
| EC Number |
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| E number | E922 (glazing agents, ...) |
PubChem CID
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |
| UN number | 1492 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| K2S2O8 | |
| Molar mass | 270.322 g/mol |
| Appearance | white powder |
| Odor | odorless |
| Density | 2.477 g/cm3[1] |
| Melting point | < 100 °C (212 °F; 373 K) (decomposes) |
| 1.75 g/100 mL (0 °C) 4.49 g/100 mL (20 °C) | |
| Solubility | insoluble in alcohol |
Refractive index (nD)
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1.467 |
| Structure | |
| triclinic | |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
| Danger | |
| H272, H302, H315, H317, H319, H334, H335, H371 | |
| P220, P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P342+P311 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose)
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802 mg/kg (oral, rat)[2] |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | ICSC 1133 |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions
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Potassium sulfite Potassium sulfate Potassium peroxymonosulfate |
Other cations
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Sodium persulfate Ammonium persulfate |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Potassium persulfate is the inorganic compound with the formula K2S2O8. Also known as potassium peroxydisulfate, it is a white solid that is sparingly soluble in cold water, but dissolves better in warm water. This salt is a powerful oxidant, commonly used to initiate polymerizations.
Structure
[edit]The sodium and potassium salts are very similar. In the potassium salt, the O-O distance is 1.495 Å. The individual sulfate groups are tetrahedral, with three short S-O distances near 1.43 and one long S-O bond at 1.65 Å.[3]
Preparation
[edit]Potassium persulfate can be prepared by electrolysis of a cold solution potassium bisulfate in sulfuric acid at a high current density.[1][4]
- 2 KHSO4 → K2S2O8 + H2
It can also be prepared by adding potassium bisulfate (KHSO4) to a solution of the more soluble salt ammonium peroxydisulfate (NH4)2S2O8. Several million kilograms of the ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts of peroxydisulfate are produced annually.
Uses
[edit]This salt is used to initiate polymerization of various alkenes leading to commercially important polymers such as styrene-butadiene rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene and related materials. In solution, the dianion dissociates to give radicals:[5]
- [O3SO-OSO3]2− ⇌ 2 [SO4]•−
It is used in organic chemistry as an oxidizing agent,[6] for instance in the Elbs persulfate oxidation of phenols and the Boyland–Sims oxidation of anilines.
As a strong yet stable bleaching agent it also finds use in various hair bleaches and lighteners. Such brief and non-continuous use is normally hazard free, however prolonged contact can cause skin irritation.[7] It has been used as an improving agent for flour with the E number E922, although it is no longer approved for this use within the EU.
Precautions
[edit]The salt is a strong oxidant and is incompatible with organic compounds. Prolonged skin contact can result in irritation.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Brauer, Georg (1963). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Academic Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-0121266011.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ Chambers, Michael. "ChemIDplus - 7727-21-1 - USHAGKDGDHPEEY-UHFFFAOYSA-L - Potassium persulfate". chem.nlm.nih.gov.
- ^ Naumov, D.Yu.; Virovets, A.V.; Podberezskaya, N.V.; Novikov, P.B.; Politov, A.A. (1997). "Redetermination of the Crystal Structure of Potassium Peroxodisulfate (K2S2O8)". Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii. 38: 922-929.
- ^ Girolami, G. S.; Rauchfuss, T. B.; Angelici, R. J. (1999). Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry. Mill Valley, CA: University Science Books. ISBN 0935702482.
- ^ Harald Jakob; Stefan Leininger; Thomas Lehmann; Sylvia Jacobi; Sven Gutewort. "Peroxo Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a19_177.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, vol. 1, pp. 193–197(1995)
- ^ a b Pang, S; Fiume, MZ (January 2001). "Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium, Potassium, and Sodium Persulfate". International Journal of Toxicology. 20 (3): 7–21. doi:10.1080/10915810152630710. PMID 11766134. S2CID 25763799.


