7910. Prussian Blue

Nomenclature

CAS number: 14038-43-8; 12240-15-2 (unspecified formula)
(OC-6-11)-Iron(3+) (3:4) hexakis(cyano-κC) ferrate(4-); ferric ferrocyanide; ferric hexacyanoferrate(II); iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(4-); C.I. 77510; Berlin blue; Chinese blue; Hamburg blue; insoluble Prussian blue; Iron blue; Milori blue; Paris blue; Radiogardase (Heyl).
C18Fe7N18; mol wt 859.23.
C 25.16%, Fe 45.50%, N 29.34%.
Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3.

Description and references

Discovered by Diesbach in 1704; one of the first synthetic coordination compounds and modern colors. The structure consists of alternating ferric and ferrous ions on face centered cubic lattice sites; the remaining charge is balanced by potassium or ferric ions. Early characterization: J. Brown, Philos. Trans. 33, 17 (1724). Prepn: Colour Index vol. 4 (3rd ed, 1971) p 4673. Structural study: J. F. Keggin, F. D. Miles, Nature 137, 577 (1936). Crystal structure: H. J. Buser et al., Inorg. Chem. 16, 2704 (1977). Physicochemical properties and efficacy in thallium poisoning: J. Kravzov et al., J. Appl. Toxicol. 13, 213 (1993). Review of toxicology: J. Pearce, Food Chem. Toxicol. 32, 577-582 (1994); of clinical efficacy in radiocesium poisioning: D. F. Thompson, C. O. Church, Pharmacotherapy 21, 1364-1367 (2001); of use in chemical and biological sensors: R. Koncki, Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem. 32, 79-96 (2002).

Properties

Purple powder. d 1.75-1.81. Soly (mg/ml): water 6; ethanol 20. Slightly sol in most organic solvents. Sol in oxalic acid; precipitates on exposure to light. Absorption max (water): 694 nm.

Derivative

Ammonium Ferric Hexacyanoferrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 25869-00-5
Ferric ammonium ferrocyanide.
C6H4Fe2N7; mol wt 285.83.
C 25.21%, H 1.41%, Fe 39.08%, N 34.30%.
NH4Fe[Fe(CN)6].

Properties

LD50 orally in mice: >5 g/kg (Pearce).

Derivative

Potassium Ferric Ferrocyanide.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 25869-98-1
C.I. 77520; C.I. Pigment Blue 27; iron(III) potassium hexacyanoferrate(4-); soluble Prussian blue.
C6Fe2KN6; mol wt 306.89.
C 23.48%, Fe 36.39%, K 12.74%, N 27.38%.
KFe[Fe(CN)6].

Use

As pigment in printing inks, paints, alkyd resin enamels, linoleum, leathercloth, carbon papers, typewriter ribbons, plastics, artists' colors; in chemical and biological sensors.

Therapeutic Category

Antidote (radioactive cesium and thallium poisoning).

Keywords

Antidote (Heavy Metal Poisoning)