Chemistry:Potassium pentasulfide

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Potassium pentasulfide
Potassium pentasulfide.svg
Names
Other names
Dipotassium pentasulfide, dipotassium sulphide, potassium polysulfide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Properties
K
2
S
5
Molar mass 238.50 g·mol−1
Appearance red-orange prisms
Structure
orthorhombic
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references
Tracking categories (test):

Potassium pentasulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula K
2
S
5
. It is a red-orange solid that dissolves in water. The salt decomposes rapidly in air. It is one of several polysulfide salts with the general formula M
2
S
n
, where M = Li, Na, K and n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.[1] The polysulfide salts of potassium and sodium are similar.

Preparation and reactions

The salt is prepared by the addition of elemental sulfur to potassium sulfide. An idealized equation is shown for potassium hydrosulfide:

4 KSH + S
8
→ 2 K
2
S
5
+ 2 H
2
S

The structure consists of zigzag chains of S2−
5
paired with K+
ions.[2]

Occurrence

Various polysulfides K
2
S
2
- K
2
S
6
are components of liver of sulfur. Polysulfides, like sulfides, can induce stress corrosion cracking in carbon steel and stainless steel.

References

  1. F. Fehér" Potassium Disulfide", "Potassium Tetrasulfide" "Potassium Pentasulfide" in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Edited by G. Brauer, Academic Press, 1963, NY. Vol. 1. p. 361-367.
  2. Barbara Kelly and Peter Woodward (1976). "Crystal structure of dipotassium pentasulphide". Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions (14): 1314–1316. doi:10.1039/DT9760001314.