Potassium hexachloroplatinate is the

inorganic compound An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds⁠that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''. Inorgan ...

with the formula K₂PtCl₆. It is a yellow solid that is a comparatively insoluble potassium salt. The salt features the hexachloroplatinate(IV) dianion, which has

octahedral coordination geometry In chemistry, octahedral molecular geometry, also called square bipyramidal, describes the shape of compounds with six atoms or groups of atoms or ligands symmetrically arranged around a central atom, defining the vertices of an octahedron. The oc ...

. The precipitation of this compound from solutions of hexachloroplatinic acid was formerly used for the determination of potassium by

gravimetric analysis Gravimetric analysis describes a set of methods used in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of an analyte (the ion being analyzed) based on its mass. The principle of this type of analysis is that once an ion's mass has been ...

. It is also useful as an intermediate in the recovery of platinum from wastes.

Reactions

Using

salt metathesis A salt metathesis reaction (also called a double displacement reaction, double replacement reaction, or double decomposition) is a type of chemical reaction in which two ionic compounds in aqueous solution exchange their component ions to form two ...

reactions, potassium hexachloroplatinate is converted to a variety of quaternary ammonium and related lipophilic salts. These include

tetrabutylammonium Tetrabutylammonium is a quaternary ammonium cation with the formula , also denoted (where Bu = butyl group). It is used in the research laboratory to prepare lipophilic salts of inorganic anions. Relative to tetraethylammonium derivatives, tetr ...

salt (NBu₄)₂PtCl₆, which has been investigated as a

catalyst Catalysis () is the increase in rate of a chemical reaction due to an added substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycles quick ...

. Reduction of potassium hexachloroplatinate with

hydrazine Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a simple pnictogen hydride, and is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odour. Hydrazine is highly hazardous unless handled in solution as, for example, hydraz ...

dihydrochloride gives the corresponding tetrachloroplatinate salt. Potassium hexachloroplatinate reacts with aqueous ammonia to give

chloropentammineplatinum chloride Chloropentammineplatinum chloride is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a chloride salt of the coordination complex . It is a white, water soluble solid. The compound is prepared by treating potassium hexachloroplatinate with aqueous ...

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Safety

Dust containing potassium hexachloroplatinate can be highly allergenic. "Symptoms range from irritation of skin and mucous membranes to life-threatening attacks of

asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...

Related compounds

Ammonium hexachloroplatinate Ammonium hexachloroplatinate, also known as ammonium chloroplatinate, is the inorganic compound with the formula (NH4)2 tCl6 It is a rare example of a soluble platinum(IV) salt that is not hygroscopic. It forms intensely yellow solutions in water. ...

References

{{Chlorine compounds Potassium compounds Hexachloroplatinates