7641. Potassium Hypophosphite

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7782-87-8
H2KO2P; mol wt 104.09.
H 1.94%, K 37.56%, O 30.74%, P 29.76%.
KH2PO2.

Properties

White crystals or granular, deliquesc powder. Odorless; pungent, saline taste. When strongly heated it dec with evolution of phosphine which ignites spontaneously in air. It explodes when triturated with chlorates or other oxidizing agents. One gram dissolves in 0.6 ml water, 9 ml alc, 5 ml boiling alc. The aq soln is neutral or slightly alkaline. Keep well closed.