Potassium pentasulfide explained

Potassium pentasulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula . 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, 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 + → 2 + 2

The structure consists of zigzag chains of paired with ions.^[2]

Occurrence

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

Notes and 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 . Crystal structure of dipotassium pentasulphide. Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions. 1976 . 14. 1314–1316 . 10.1039/DT9760001314.