Sodium ferrocyanide
Sodium ferrocyanide is the sodium salt of the coordination compound of formula [Fe(CN)6]4−. In its hydrous form, Na4Fe(CN)6 · 10 H2O (sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate), it is sometimes known as yellow prussiate of soda. It is a yellow crystalline solid that is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. The yellow color is the color of ferrocyanide anion. Despite the presence of the cyanide ligands, sodium ferrocyanide has low toxicity (acceptable daily intake 0–0.025 mg/kg body weight). The ferrocyanides are less toxic than many salts of cyanide, because they tend not to release free cyanide. However, like all ferrocyanide salt solutions, addition of an acid or exposure to UV light can result in the production of hydrogen cyanide gas, which is extremely toxic.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Tetrasodium [hexacyanoferrate(II)] | |
| Other names
Yellow prussiate of soda (YPS), Tetrasodium hexacyanoferrate, Gelbnatron, Ferrocyannatrium, sodium hexacyanoferrate(II), Yellow blood salt | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.033.696 |
| EC Number |
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| E number | E535 (acidity regulators, ...) |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| Na4[Fe(CN)6] | |
| Molar mass | 303.91 g/mol |
| Appearance | pale yellow crystals |
| Odor | odorless |
| Density | 1.458 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 435 °C (815 °F; 708 K) (anhydrous) 81.5 °C (178.7 °F; 354.6 K) (decahydrate) (decomposes) |
| 10.2 g/100 mL (10 °C) 17.6 g/100 mL (20 °C) 39.7 g/100 mL (96.6 °C) | |
Refractive index (nD) |
1.530 |
| Structure | |
| monoclinic | |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions |
Sodium ferricyanide (Red prussiate of soda) |
Other cations |
Potassium ferrocyanide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |