Potassium thiocyanate

Potassium thiocyanate

Names
Other names Potassium sulfocyanate Potassium isothiocyanate Potassium thiocyanide Potassium rhodanide
Identifiers
CAS Number	333-20-0 Y
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:30951 Y
ChemSpider	9150 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.005.792
PubChem	516872
RTECS number	XL1925000
UNII	TM7213864A Y
InChI InChI=1S/CHNS.K/c2-1-3;/h3H;/q;+1/p-1 Y Key: ZNNZYHKDIALBAK-UHFFFAOYSA-M Y InChI=1/CHNS.K/c2-1-3;/h3H;/q;+1/p-1 Key: ZNNZYHKDIALBAK-REWHXWOFAT
SMILES C(#N)[S-].[K+]
Properties
Chemical formula	KSCN
Molar mass	97.181 g mol−1
Appearance	Colorless deliquescent crystals
Odor	Odorless
Density	1.886 g/cm3
Melting point	173.2 °C (343.8 °F; 446.3 K)
Boiling point	500 °C (932 °F; 773 K) (decomposes)
Solubility in water	177 g/100 mL (0 °C) 217 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Solubility in acetone	21.0 g/100 mL
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−48.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet	ICSC 1088
EU classification (DSD)	Toxic (T)
R-phrases	R20/21/22 R32 R52/53
S-phrases	(S2) S13 S61
NFPA 704	0 2 0
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	854 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Related compounds
Other anions	Potassium cyanate Potassium cyanide
Other cations	Sodium thiocyanate Ammonium thiocyanate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

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

Aqueous KSCN reacts almost quantitatively with Pb(NO₃)₂ to give Pb(SCN)₂, which has been used to convert acyl chlorides to thiocyanates.

KSCN converts ethylene carbonate to ethylenesulfide. 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.

KSCN is also the starting product for the synthesis of carbonyl sulfide.

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 colorless solution. When in contact with ferric chloride solution (or other solutions containing Fe³⁺), the product of the reaction is a solution with a blood red colour, due to the formation of the thiocyanatoiron complex ion. Thus this chemical is often used to create the effect of 'stigmata'. Because both solutions are colorless, they can be placed separately on each hand. When the hands are brought into contact, the solutions react and the effect looks remarkably like stigmata.

Similarly, this reaction is used as a test for Fe³⁺ in the laboratory.