Potassium ferrioxalate

Potassium ferrioxalate, also called potassium trisoxalatoferrate or potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III) is a chemical compound with the formula <a href="/facts/Potassium/FWPwS7Rj">K</a>3[<a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">Fe</a>(<a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">C</a>2<a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">O</a>4)3]. It often occurs as the <a href="/facts/Trihydrate/dev82l69">trihydrate</a> K3[Fe(C2O4)3]·3H2O. Both are crystalline compounds, lime green in colour.
The compound is a <a href="/facts/Salt_(chemistry)/lsSKwGpn">salt</a> consisting of <a href="/facts/Ferrioxalate/sLg3Y0yn">ferrioxalate</a> <a href="/facts/Anion/wrbwhF3z">anions</a>, [Fe(C2O4)3]3−, and <a href="/facts/Potassium/FWPwS7Rj">potassium</a> cations K+. The anion is a <a href="/facts/Transition_metal_oxalate_complex/RlJaDSor">transition metal oxalate complex</a> consisting of an <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">iron</a> atom in the +3 oxidation state and three <a href="/facts/Bidentate/hJF1lAJz">bidentate</a> <a href="/facts/Oxalate/u0Gdem0A">oxalate</a> C2O2−4 <a href="/facts/Ligands/6etB3qeW">ligands</a>. Potassium is a <a href="/facts/Counterion/RNwGeM3l">counterion</a>, balancing the −3 charge of the complex. In solution, the salt dissociates to give the ferrioxalate anion, [Fe(C2O4)3]3−, which appears fluorescent green in color. The salt is available in anhydrous form as well as a <a href="/facts/Water_of_crystallization/sbaKJNJX">trihydrate</a>.
The ferrioxalate anion is quite stable in the dark, but it is decomposed by light and high-energy <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">electromagnetic radiation</a>.

Potassium ferrioxalate open-in-new

Potassium ferrioxalate