Potassium ferrooxalate, also known as potassium bisoxalatoferrate(II), is a salt with the formula K2Fe(C2O4)2(H2O)x. The anion is a transition metal oxalate complex, consisting of an atom of iron in the +2 oxidation state bound to oxalate (C
2O2−
4) ligands and water.[2]
Names | |
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IUPAC name
Potassium iron(II) oxalate | |
Other names
potassium ferrooxalate | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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Properties | |
K 2[Fe(C 2O 4) 2] (anhydrous) K 2[Fe(C 2O 4) 2]·2H 2O (dihydrate) | |
Appearance | orange-yellow solid (anhydrous), golden-yellow crystals (dihydrate) [1] |
Melting point | decomposes at 470 °C [1] |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Anhydrous K2Fe(C2O4)2 has been prepared by hydrothermal methods from ferrous chloride. It is a coordination polymer with trigonal prismatic Fe(C2O4)3 centers. Half of the oxalate ligands are bridging.[3]
The material K2Fe(C2O4)2(H2O)2 has been claimed[1] but not verified.Potassium ferrooxalate is believed to be formed when the related compound potassium ferrioxalate K
3[Fe(C
2O
4)
3] is decomposed by light in solution (a common method of actinometry) or heated above 296 °C.[1] The anhydrous salt is orange-yellow and dissolves in water to give a red solution. Crystals of the dihydrate K
2[Fe(C
2O
4)
2]·2H
2O are golden yellow in color.[1]
A number of other iron oxalates are known