Potassium hexafluorophosphate

Potassium hexafluorophosphate is a chemical compound with the formula KPF6. This colourless salt consists of potassium cations and hexafluorophosphate anions. It is prepared by the reaction:[2]

Potassium hexafluorophosphate
Names
IUPAC name
Potassium hexafluorophosphate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard100.037.388 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 241-143-0
UNII
  • InChI=1S/F6P.K/c1-7(2,3,4,5)6;/q-1;+1 checkY
    Key: YZDGRYDIGCWVND-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/F6P.K/c1-7(2,3,4,5)6;/q-1;+1
    Key: YZDGRYDIGCWVND-UHFFFAOYAC
  • [K+].F[P-](F)(F)(F)(F)F
Properties
K[PF6]
Molar mass184.0625 g/mol
Appearancecolourless solid
Density2.75 g/cm3
Melting point575 °C (1,067 °F; 848 K)
8.35g/100 mL (25 °C)[1]
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS07: Exclamation mark
Danger
H302, H314, H319
P260, P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P330, P337+P313, P363, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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PCl5 + KCl + 6 HF → KPF6 + 6 HCl

This exothermic reaction is conducted in liquid hydrogen fluoride. The salt is stable in a hot alkaline aqueous solution, from which it can be recrystallized. The sodium and ammonium salts are more soluble in water whereas the rubidium and caesium salts are less so.

KPF6 is a common laboratory source of the hexafluorophosphate anion, a non-coordinating anion that confers lipophilicity to its salts. These salts are often less soluble than the closely related tetrafluoroborates.

References