Potassium dichromate chemical formula, molecular weight, how to read, solution color, is it easy to make drugs or explosions? Six questions are clearly explained at a time
The first time you saw the words "potassium dichromate" in the reagent cabinet, did you also be stunned for a moment -How to read potassium dichromate? Is that "heavy" pronounced chóng or zhång? Also,Potassium dichromate chemical formulaWhat is it?Potassium dichromate molecular weightHow much is it,Potassium dichromate solution colorWhy is it orange-red, and the most crucial question:Is potassium dichromate easy to make poison or explosion?Today, let's break down these six questions at one time and make them clear.
Meet this "orange-red boss" first: basic profile of potassium dichromate
Potassium dichromate chemical formulaYes K₂Cr₂O₇It is also commonly known asPotassium alum。Potassium dichromate molecular weightfor 294.18(There are also data written 294.19 or 294.21, the difference in accuracy does not affect daily use). The CAS number is 7778-50-9。
In terms of physical properties, it isOrange-red triclinic system plate-like crystalsIt has a bitter and metallic taste and density 2.676 g/cm³Melting point 398℃The heat is about500℃It frees up oxygen over time. It doesn't hydrate, it doesn't hydrate -- better than sodium dichromate.
Chemical properties in one sentence:Strong oxidant, so strong that no friendsThe oxidizing ability is extremely strong under acidic conditions, and the standard electrode potential is +1.36VContact with combustible and reducing substances will react violently, posing a risk of fire and explosion
The first question: How do you pronounce potassium dichromate? (90% of people may have misread it)
How to read potassium dichromateThe correct pronunciation is quick gè suān ji。
Many people are used to pronouncing it as "zhång" potassium chromate, but it is actually wrong. Why "chóng"? becausePotassium dichromate chemical formula It's made of K, Cr, O.Two chromium atoms, which is equivalent to "duplicate" chromium. "Heavy" here means "double", "two", "complex". So "potassium dichromate" literally means "potassium chromate containing two chromium" - is this explanation never wrong again?
💡 Trivia: Many chemistry teachers can misread it themselves. Remember, next time you say "chóng potassium chromate" at the group meeting, you will be the most professional in the audience.
Second question: Is potassium dichromate easy to produce poison or explosion?
That's the right question. Here's the answer.Potassium dichromate is a hazardous explosive chemical, not a precursor chemical.
According to the List of Explosive Hazardous Chemicals,dichromateExplicitly included in the list of explosive devices, including lithium dichromate, sodium dichromate,potassium dichromateAmmonium dichromate, etc. and itnot inIn the catalogue of the Regulations on the Administration of Precursor Chemicals.
What does management mean? The purchase of solid potassium dichromate needs to go through regular channels, do a good job of warehousing and warehousing, and accept the supervision of public security organs. Personal purchases are limited and must be purchased by qualified units. Storage should be strictly separated from combustibles, reducing agents, and organic matter.
💡 Purchasing reminder: If you are a laboratory purchaser, remember to go to a regular supplier when purchasing potassium dichromate, keep purchase records and use the ledger. This stuff is no joke.
Third question: What is the color of potassium dichromate solution?
Potassium dichromate solution colorYesorange-red。
The solid is orange-red crystals, and the solution also appears when dissolved in waterorange-redThere is an easy confusion:potassium chromateIt's a yellow crystal, and the solution is yellow -- one letter, completely different color, don't get confused.
Will the color of the solution change? Yes. Under acidic conditions (such as the addition of sulfuric acid), the oxidation of potassium dichromate is enhanced, but the solution itselfColor unchangedHowever, if it is heated or reacted with a reducing agent, hexavalent chromium is reduced to trivalent chromium, and the solution color will change fromOrange-red turns green.This color change is the "signal light" for potassium dichromate to participate in the redox reaction
Fourth question: What are the uses of potassium dichromate?
Due to its strong oxidizing properties and unique orange-red color, potassium dichromate is widely used in laboratories and industries.
- Analytical chemistry: used as a reference reagent to calibrate sodium thiosulfate standard solutions for redox titration
- Commonly used in the laboratory: prepare chromic acid lotion (potassium dichromate + concentrated sulfuric acid) to clean glassware
- Industrial field: manufacturing chrome alum, chrome pigments, matches, electroplating, tanning, organic synthesis, etc
- Environmental testing: Determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in water quality analysis
Important Warning: Toxicity of Potassium Dichromate
Potassium dichromate is aToxic and carcinogenicThe substance isThe International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a Group I carcinogen. When operating, gloves and goggles must be worn in a fume hood. Waste liquid cannot be directly poured into the sewer, and needs to be specially treated as hexavalent chromium waste liquid.
Regarding potassium dichromate, it is enough to remember these points
Potassium dichromate - chemical formula K 2O Cr 2O O, molecular weight 294.18, correct reading "chóng gèsuān ji", the aqueous solution is orange-red, listed in the "List of Hazardous Chemicals prone to Explosion", and the operation needs to strictly implement safety regulations. The above six items are the basic information that every experimenter who comes into contact with this reagent must master.
The establishment of these parameters and security properties requires a default condition:The purity of the reagent itself is up to standard and the quality control is stableIn practice, lack of purity can lead to deviations in calibration concentrations, abnormal color of solutions, and even questioning of experimental results - a level of systematic deviation that cannot be compensated for by good practices. Therefore, sourcing qualified reagents from compliance channels is as important as remembering chemical formulas and molecular weights.
Scientific Grain OfficerplatformPositioning is to solve this problem: standard quality control, compliance supply, quality traceability, so that the experimental data is reliable from the beginning. Master the correct knowledge, select qualified reagents, and perform standardized operations - this is the attitude that should be treated with each bottle of potassium dichromate.




