Potassium sulfide
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Potassium sulfide | |
| Other names
Dipotassium monosulfide, Dipotassium sulfide, Potassium monosulfide, Potassium sulfide | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.013.816 |
| EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |
| UN number | 1847 1382 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| K2S | |
| Molar mass | 110.262 g/mol |
| Appearance | pure: colourless impure: yellow-brown |
| Odor | H2S |
| Density | 1.74 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 840 °C (1,540 °F; 1,110 K) |
| Boiling point | 912 °C (1,674 °F; 1,185 K) (decomposes) |
| converts to KSH, KOH | |
| Solubility in other solvents | soluble in ethanol, glycerol insoluble in ether |
| −60.0·10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Structure | |
| antifluorite | |
| Thermochemistry | |
Std molar entropy (S⦵298) |
105.00 J·mol−1·K−1[1] |
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) |
−406.2 kJ·mol−1[2] |
Gibbs free energy (ΔfG⦵) |
−392.4 kJ·mol[2] |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Causes skin burns. Dangerous for the environment |
| GHS labelling: | |
  | |
| Danger | |
| H314, H400 | |
| P260, P264, P273, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P363, P391, P405, P501 | |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions |
Potassium oxide Potassium selenide Potassium telluride Potassium polonide |
Other cations |
Lithium sulfide Sodium sulfide Rubidium sulfide Caesium sulfide |
Related compounds |
Potassium hydrosulfide Potassium sulfite Potassium sulfate Iron(II) sulfide |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Potassium sulfide is an inorganic compound with the formula K2S. The colourless solid is rarely encountered, because it reacts readily with water, a reaction that produces potassium hydrosulfide (KSH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH). Most commonly, the term potassium sulfide refers loosely to this mixture, not the anhydrous solid.
Structure
[edit]It adopts an antifluorite structure, which means that the small K+ ions occupy the tetrahedral (F−) sites in fluorite, and the larger S2− centers occupy the eight-coordinate sites. Li2S, Na2S, and Rb2S crystallize similarly.[3]
Synthesis and reactions
[edit]It can be produced by heating K2SO4 with carbon (coke):
- K2SO4 + 4 C → K2S + 4 CO
In the laboratory, pure K2S may be prepared by the reaction of potassium and sulfur in anhydrous ammonia.[4]
Sulfide is highly basic, so K2S completely and irreversibly hydrolyzes in water according to the following equation:
- K2S + H2O → KOH + KSH
For many purposes, this reaction is inconsequential since the mixture of SH− and OH− behaves as a source of S2−. Other alkali metal sulfides behave similarly.[3]
Potassium polysulfides can be synthesized by reaction of K and S in different ratios:[5]
- 2 K + 3 S → K2S3
Use in fireworks
[edit]Potassium sulfides are formed when black powder is burned and are important intermediates in many pyrotechnic effects, such as senko hanabi and some glitter formulations.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (95th ed.). CRC Press. 2014. pp. 5–15. ISBN 1482208679.
- 1 2 Johnson, G.K.; Steele, W.V. (1981). "The standard enthalpy of formation of potassium sulfide (K2S) by fluorine bomb calorimetry". The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics. 13 (10): 985–990. doi:10.1016/0021-9614(81)90075-6.
- 1 2 Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
- ↑ F. Féher (1963). "Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 1. NY,NY: Academic Press. p. 360.
- ↑ Gu, Sichen; Xiao, Neng; Wu, Feng; Bai, Ying; Wu, Chuan; Wu, Yiying (16 October 2018). "Chemical Synthesis of K2S2 and K2S3 for Probing Electrochemical Mechanisms in K–S Batteries". ACS Energy Letters. 3 (12). doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01719. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
- ↑ Shimizu, Takeo. "Fireworks: the Art, Science, and Technique." Pyrotechnica Publications: Austin, 1981. ISBN 0-929388-05-4.
