Potassium pyrosulfate

Potassium pyrosulfate, or potassium disulfate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula K2S2O7.

Potassium pyrosulfate
Names
IUPAC name
dipotassium (sulfonatooxy)sulfonate
Other names
Potassium pyrosulphate; potassium disulfate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard100.029.288 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-216-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2K.H2O7S2/c;;1-8(2,3)7-9(4,5)6/h;;(H,1,2,3)(H,4,5,6)/q2*+1;/p-2 ☒N
    Key: KAQHZJVQFBJKCK-UHFFFAOYSA-L ☒N
  • InChI=1/2K.H2O7S2/c;;1-8(2,3)7-9(4,5)6/h;;(H,1,2,3)(H,4,5,6)/q2*+1;/p-2
    Key: KAQHZJVQFBJKCK-NUQVWONBAQ
  • [O-]S(=O)(=O)OS(=O)(=O)[O-].[K+].[K+]
Properties
K2O7S2
Molar mass254.31 g·mol−1
Density2.28 g/cm3
Melting point325 °C (617 °F; 598 K)
25.4 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: Toxic
Danger
H314, H331
P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P311, P321, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Production

Potassium pyrosulfate is obtained by the thermal decomposition of other salts, most directly from potassium bisulfate:[1]

2 KHSO4 → K2S2O7 + H2O

Temperatures above 600°C further decompose potassium pyrosulfate to potassium sulfate and sulfur trioxide however:[2]

K2S2O7 → K2SO4 + SO3

Other salts, such as potassium trisulfate,[3] can also decompose into potassium pyrosulfate.

Chemical structure

Potassium pyrosulfate contains the pyrosulfate anion which has a dichromate-like structure. The geometry can be visualized as a tetrahedron with two corners sharing the SO4 anion's configuration and a centrally bridged oxygen atom.[4] A semi-structural formula for the pyrosulfate anion is O3SOSO32−. The oxidation state of sulfur in this compound is +6.

Uses

Potassium pyrosulfate is used in analytical chemistry; samples are fused with potassium pyrosulfate, (or a mixture of potassium pyrosulfate and potassium fluoride) to ensure complete dissolution prior to a quantitative analysis.[5][6]

The compound is also present in a catalyst in conjunction with vanadium(V) oxide in the industrial production of sulfur trioxide.[7]

See also

References