View source for Potassium thiocyanate

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{{Chembox new
|   Name = Potassium thiocyanate
|   OtherNames = potassium sulfocyanate<br />potassium isothiocyanate<br />potassium thiocyanide
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
|   CASNo = 333-20-0
|   RTECS = XL1925000
  }}
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
|   Formula = KSCN
|   MolarMass = 97.18 g/mol
|   Appearance = colorless crystals<br /> [[deliquescent]]
|   Density = 1.89 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, solid
|   Solubility = 2170 g/L
|   Solvent = other solvents
|   SolubleOther = e.g. [[ethanol]]<br />[[acetone]]:210 g/L
|   MeltingPt = 173 °C
|   BoilingPt = 500 °C
  }}
| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards
|   ExternalMSDS =
|   MainHazards = toxic
|   RPhrases = 20/21/22-32-52/53
|   SPhrases = 13-61
  }}
| Section8 = {{Chembox Related
|   OtherCations = NaSCN
|   OtherCpds = [[Potassium cyanide]]<br />[[Potassium cyanate]]
  }}
}}

'''Potassium thiocyanate''' is the [[chemical compound]] with the molecular formula KSCN.  It is an important salt of the [[thiocyanate]] [[anion]], one of the [[pseudohalide]]s.  The compound has a low melting point relative to most other inorganic salts.

==Use in chemical synthesis==
Aqueous KSCN reacts almost quantitatively with [[Lead(II) nitrate|Pb(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]] to give Pb(SCN)<sub>2</sub>.  The lead compound has been used to convert [[acyl chloride]]s to the thiocyanates.<ref>{{OrgSynth | author = Smith, P. A. S.; Kan, R. O. | title = 2a-Thiohomophthalimide | year = 1973 | collvol = 5 | collvolpages = 1051 | prep = cv5p1051}}</ref>

KSCN converts [[ethylene carbonate]] to [[ethylenesulfide]].<ref>{{OrgSynth | author = Searles, S.; Lutz, E. F.; Hays, H. R.; Mortensen, H. E. | title = Ethylenesulfide | year = 1973 | collvol = 5 | collvolpages = 562 | prep = cv5p0562}}</ref>  For this purpose, the KSCN is first melted under vacuum to remove water.  In a related reaction, KSCN converts cyclohexene oxide to the corresponding [[episulfide]].<ref>{{OrgSynth | author = van Tamelen, E. E. | title = Cyclohexenesulfide | year = 1963 | collvol = 4 | collvolpages = 232 | prep = cv4p0232}}</ref>
:C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>O  +  KSCN  &rarr;  C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>S  +  [[Potassium cyanate|KOCN]]

Its the starting product for the synthesis of [[carbonyl sulfide]].

==Other uses==
Dilute aqueous KSCN is occasionally used for moderately realistic blood effects in film and theater. It can be painted onto a surface or kept as a colourless solution. When in contact with ferric chloride solution, the product of the reaction is a blood red solution.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Thiocyanates]]
[[Category:Potassium compounds]]
[[Category:Inorganic compound stubs]]
[[Category:Photographic chemicals]]

[[ar:ثيوسيانات بوتاسيوم]]
[[de:Kaliumthiocyanat]]
[[nl:Kaliumthiocyanaat]]
[[ja:チオシアン酸カリウム]]
[[pl:Rodanek potasu]]
[[sv:Kaliumtiocyanat]]
[[zh:硫氰酸钾]]

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